Nollywood actress and filmmaker Yetunde Barnabas has broken her silence over what she describes as persistent bullying and deliberate attempts to damage her reputation and discredit her work.
In an Instagram post, Barnabas said she had remained silent for long but had reached a point where she could no longer ignore the attacks against her.
“Enough is enough! I have stayed quiet for long enough, but I can no longer sit back and watch you people bully me, deliberately tarnish my name, attack my career and constantly discredit the work I have sacrificed so much to build,” she wrote.
The filmmaker said she had built her career through years of hard work and personal sacrifices and would not allow anyone to undermine what she had achieved.
Barnabas also directly addressed an Instagram user identified as @ajefunke_kofoshi, publicly asking the individual to remove a post she described as hateful.
She said she had committed no wrongdoing by pursuing filmmaking, building her career or investing in her own productions.
Barnabas specifically referenced her film OJISE, saying she invested N30 million in its production and remained proud of the work behind the project.
“I produced OJISE with a N30 million budget, and I am proud of the work that went into it. I will not sit quietly while anyone deliberately tries to rubbish my name or discredit my work,” she said.
The actress also alleged that a group had been created specifically to target her and attack projects associated with her.
“What concerns me even more is discovering that there is allegedly a hate group created specifically to constantly attack me and tarnish every project I put out,” she said.
Barnabas said she did not know who was behind the alleged group but claimed she had been informed that some individuals wanted her out of the entertainment industry.
She suggested that her position as one of the early creators to monetise content on YouTube could be connected to the hostility she says she has faced, although she did not provide evidence linking the alleged group to a specific person or organisation.
“I am stepping in with the authorities from this point henceforth,” she added.
The filmmaker maintained that she had done nothing criminal and described herself as an actress, producer, businesswoman and entrepreneur who had worked for her achievements.
“I am not a thief, I am not a criminal, I am a filmmaker, a producer, a businesswoman, and a woman who has worked incredibly hard for everything she has today,” Barnabas said.
She ended her statement by vowing to take steps to protect her reputation, career and creative work.
“From this point forward, I will protect my name, my career, my work, and everything I have built. Enough is enough,” she said.
