The Nigerian entertainment and digital media space is mourning the death of social media influencer Esther Thomas, popularly known as Sunshine. She died on January 9, 2026, after complications from fibroid surgery. Her sudden passing shocked her fans and followers, who admired her comedy skits and online collaborations.
Her family confirmed the news on Instagram on January 10. They said Sunshine passed away following surgery to remove a fibroid. The family described the loss as sudden and painful. They wrote, “We the family of Esther Thomas (A.K.A Sunshine) with pain in our heart we regret to announce the sudden demise of our beloved sister and daughter Esther Thomas who suddenly passed away on the 9th of January 2026 after an unsuccessful surgery. She had a fibroid and was operated on so she couldn’t make it so we are trying to put things in place so we could put her to rest.”
Additional details were shared by her close collaborator and friend, Chidera Madu. He said Sunshine experienced persistent stomach pains starting on December 28, 2025. She was first admitted to a hospital but later transferred to a private facility due to complications at the initial hospital. According to him, doctors performed the fibroid surgery and initially reported it as successful. He added, “According to the doctor, the surgery was successful, but she later developed complications that led to her death.”
Sunshine was a popular figure in Nigeria’s online entertainment scene. She had more than 135,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 500,000 combined followers across Instagram and Facebook. She was known for her collaborations with other creators, including Chidera Madu, and for her relatable and humorous content.
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