Burna Boy linked to arrest of Nigerian content creator

In a video that has now gone viral, a woman claiming to be the mother of Nigerian musician and content creator Speed Darlington is appealing to the public and Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy for assistance leading to the safe return of her son, who has been reported missing for days.

The woman, who identified herself as Miss Queen, suggests that Burna Boy and his team are involved in Speed Darlington’s disappearance.

She claims that Speed’s gateman contacted her family to inform them that her son had been picked up, alleging it might be related to a video Speed made weeks ago about Burna Boy.

"His gatekeeper called my family and notified them that there’s a video that was made and put on the internet about Burna Boy,” she explained. “Please, Speed is my only son. I am begging my fellow Nigerians  –  everyone should help me beg Burna Boy." 

She added, "My name is Miss Queen. Burnaboy, I am begging you. My kneels on the ground, I am begging you, please. Temper justice with mercy. Have mercy on my son. Forgive him, please. I am on my knees, I am begging. Temper justice with Mercy, forgive Darlington, I am begging. Nigerians please, come to Darlington’s aid."

In the impassioned plea, Miss Queen directly addressed Burna Boy, saying that she was Darlington’s mother and had exhausted all ways to find help. 

“You people, all Darlington’s fans should help to beg Burna Boy. Burna Boy, please temper justice with mercy. Forgive Darlington, this is me, Darlington’s biological mother, I am begging, I don’t know what to say other than begging," she pleaded.

In the viral video linked to his arrest, Speed Darlington suggested there might be more to Burna Boy’s 2021 Grammy win for his fifth album "Twice as Tall", playfully questioning how much effort   went into earning the award.

This comment connects to the recent federal indictment against American rapper, record producer, and record executive Sean John Combs, also known by his stage name Diddy, which included damning allegations of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as the seizure of over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant from his luxury homes.

In the video, which may have offended Burna Boy, Speed questioned Burna Boy's dealings with Diddy, who is credited as an executive producer of Twice as Tall, alongside Burna Boy and his mother, Bose Ogulu.

He also disputed Burna Boy's use of the name 'Odogwu', saying that anyone in Lagos could also refer to themselves as 'Odogwu'. 

Meanwhile, Nigerian activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju, took to X to reveal that Speed Darlington was being detained by the Nigerian Police Force. 

“We just spent the last 30 minutes with Speed Darlington, and he recounted how he was arrested in Lagos last Friday, moved around, and eventually brought to Abuja, where he has been detained since. We can confirm that the petition against him was written by Burna Boy," he said.

Nigerian publications now report that Speed has been released on bail. 

Both Speed Darlington, born Darlington Okoye, and Burna Boy, born Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, are not new to controversy. 

The former gained fame for his humorous, often controversial posts on social media, particularly on Instagram, where his signature phrase “bang da dadang” has become well-known. 

And in June 2022, reports surfaced alleging that Burna Boy’s aides shot at partygoers in a Lagos club after a woman declined to interact with him.