The late Herbert is survived by his wife and three young children, while his family has appealed for financial assistance to handle funeral expenses and the cost of returning his remains to Nigeria.
Naija Street Matters gathered on Sunday from a post shared on X by a user known as “The Stress Manager” that Herbert, who resided in Thornaby, reportedly died in his sleep last week. His death came as a shock to relatives and loved ones.
According to the post, Herbert had been under significant emotional and financial pressure following the recent death of his father in Nigeria.
The post stated, “Herbert, a gentle and committed Nigerian husband and father of three, with his youngest child just eight years old, died unexpectedly in his sleep in Thornaby.
“Only a few days earlier, he was already grieving the loss of his father back home in Nigeria. Although he couldn’t travel for the burial, he gave all he could financially to ensure his father was buried with dignity. This left him both emotionally and financially drained.
“Sadly, Herbert passed away on the same day his father was being buried.”
It was further revealed that the situation was even more devastating because Herbert’s children were the ones who discovered his body, as their mother was not at home at the time.
The post added that Herbert was a loving husband and father, leaving behind three children, the youngest just eight years old.
Following his death, the responsibility of caring for the children now rests solely on his wife, who is also struggling with the financial demands of burial and repatriation.
“No child should have to go through such a traumatic experience,” the post noted.
A former president of Nigerians in the UK, Benjamin Kuti, also confirmed the incident in a post on Friday and called on the Nigerian community to support the grieving family.
A fundraising campaign has since been launched to assist, with appeals made to Nigerians in the UK and beyond.
At the time of this report, £2,633 had been raised out of the £7,000 goal.
Naija Street Matters had earlier reported on April 13 that another UK-based Nigerian mother of three, Omotayo Abioye, passed away after battling breast cancer.
Kuti revealed that she died on April 5 at the age of 40.
Her family described her as a caring mother, devoted wife, and a kind-hearted person who touched many lives.
