Bokku Mart has apologised after a promotional video featuring influencer Defolah Oluwafunmilayo ignited widespread accusations of ethnic stereotyping and calls for a nationwide boycott.

The controversy, which erupted on October 28, 2025, centered on a now-deleted clip posted to Bokku Mart’s social media accounts.

In the video, Defolah touted the store’s affordable staples like garri and beans, stating, “You mean I can get beans and garri Ijebu at Bokku without any Omo Igbo cheating me?”

The phrase, invoking a derogatory stereotype about Igbo traders as dishonest, quickly amassed thousands of critical views and replies, with users decrying it as tribalistic and harmful to national unity.

Defolah responded swiftly with her video apology on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “It was never my intention to promote any form of tribal bias or disrespect to the Igbo people. I am deeply sorry for my words and I have definitely learned from this.”

She emphasised that her comment was meant to highlight fair pricing but acknowledged its offensive impact.

Bokku Mart addressed the backlash in a statement posted to its official X, describing the content as “offensive and hurtful” and “deeply misaligned with Bokku’s values.”

“We are deeply saddened and disturbed by a video recently shared online that contained offensive and hurtful language.

“The language used in the video was unacceptable and deeply misaligned with Bokku’s values,” the company said.

The company attributed the video’s release to an external influencer and a third-party agency, noting it bypassed internal review.

“While the content originated from an external influencer and was published by a third-party media firm without prior review by our team, we take full responsibility for its appearance on our platforms,” the company stated.

To prevent recurrence, Bokku Mart pledged enhanced content approval processes and vendor oversight.

“We have since strengthened our content approval and vendor oversight processes to ensure such an incident never happens again,” the statement continued.

It also reaffirmed its ethos as a “proudly Nigerian company built on love for our people and communities,” vowing to “stand firmly against all forms of discrimination” and celebrate the nation’s diversity.

“Bokku Mart is more than a retail brand; we are a proudly Nigerian company built on love for our people and communities.

“Our mission is to make everyday life better for all Nigerians by ensuring access to quality products at affordable prices.

“We celebrate our nation’s rich diversity and stand firmly against all forms of discrimination,” the company added. (The Nation)