Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has said the death of his close friend and collaborator, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, completely altered his outlook on life.
Speaking during a TikTok livestream with influencer Joblaq on Friday, August 16, 2025, and monitored by Pointblanknews.com, Bella described Mohbad’s sudden death in September 2023 as a moment of pain, deep reflection, and a turning point for him.
“RIP Mohbad. After he passed away, my brain reset, and everything changed. The way I see things in life has also changed,” Bella said.
The artiste explained that the tragedy helped him appreciate the lessons his parents had tried to instill in him while growing up.
He said, “There’s a time that our parents used to tell us when we misbehave that, ‘You’re misbehaving, right? Don’t worry, very soon you will understand.’ I’m currently in that phase where I’m starting to understand. I have understood certain things,” he added.
Bella and Mohbad were very close friends and colleagues in the entertainment world. They shared a strong bond in and outside music since 2019, collaborating on multiple projects and performing together at shows.
Following Mohbad’s controversial death on September 12, 2023, Bella was one of the most vocal artistes demanding justice.
In the days after his death, Bella openly expressed his grief. “I have not been happy for days. I just dey drink, dey sober. I don’t want to believe this life. Mohbad, my friend, why you go?” he wrote in one of his early tributes.
He also urged authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, stressing, “Government, police, anybody wey fit look into this matter, make dem no waste time. We must get justice for Mohbad.”
Bella went on to immortalise his late friend through music and public tributes. He once wore Mohbad’s singlet and necklace during a performance and led candlelight processions both in Nigeria and abroad.
At a memorial in Canada, he told fans: “Mohbad was my best friend. He lives forever in my heart.”
While admitting that the loss plunged him into grief and personal struggles, Bella said it has ultimately left him with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of life. “I will not forget those lessons. Seriously, life is so brief. I have learn a lot” he said philosophically.
Coming from Bella, this is commendable. Young and upcoming artistes have so much to learn from his reflections; to take life easy, grow slowly and steadily through the process, and avoid the fast lane of life. Mohbad’s fans and all Lovers of justice are on the same page on demanding for justice. We all pray that it will not forever be wood goose chase.
