The family of Nigerian artiste Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface, on Friday petitioned the State Security Service (SSS), declaring him missing.
In the petition, submitted by their legal representatives, Anuge, Anuge & Co, to the SSS’ director general, the Idibia family said the artiste was last seen in the early hours of Monday.
“We are writing to urgently seek your assistance regarding a profoundly troubling situation involving a member of the Idibia Family, Mr Innocent Idibia (also known as Tuface or 2Baba), who our client reasonably believes may be missing since Monday, 10 February 2025.
“We believe that Mr Innocent left his residence in the early hours of 10 February 2025 in his loungewear, suggestive that he was going on his habitual walk, but never returned home since then,” the petition read.
According to the petition, all efforts by family, his record label, and friends to reach or locate him have been proven futile.
The family said that by the reason of Tuface’s celebrity status, he is supposed to be escorted by guards, but he wasn’t on the day he was last seen.
“By reason of his celebrity status. It’s established protocol for Mr Innocent to be accompanied by protective guards wherever he goes. However, on the day he was last seen, he left his residence unaccompanied by his protective guards, his personal assistant, or any of his staff.
“This disturbing discovery and the fact that those who ought to hear from him have not heard from him for over 72 hours left his entire family deeply concerned,” the family said.
The singer’s family urged the SSS to intervene, investigate the matter, and ensure the artiste’s safety. They raised concerns that it was unusual for him to go missing and abandon his work for prolonged hours.
They said many of the singer’s friends received “alarming” messages from “what appears to be his social media accounts” seeking financial aid, thereby raising concerns that the “African Queen” crooner may have been abducted.
“These messages are alarming, as Mr Innocent is financially independent and has never required assistance in such a manner. This has led his family to suspect that his identity may have been compromised and that someone may have abducted him and is actively manipulating him to exploit his contacts for monetary gain,” they said.
The petition comes hours after Rose Idibia, the mother of the star artiste, cried out to Natasha Osawaru to “free her son,” shortly after Tuface publicly proposed to the 31-year-old Edo lawmaker.
“He’s clearly not in his right senses now. I know my son. This is not him,” the mother said.
The 49-year-old singer has continued to make headlines after he announced separation from his wife and actress Annie Macaulay.
