Oluwatoyin Salau, a 19-year-old American-based Nigerian activist, has reportedly been found dead, days after she was declared missing in Tallahassee, Florida — and it has sparked outrage on social media.
The Tallahassee police department (TPD) had said that Toyin was last seen on June 6 — the same day the ‘Black Live Matters’ activist wrote a thread on her Twitter page of how she was molested by a black man.
“Anyways I was molested in Tallahassee, Florida by a black man this morning at 5:30 on Richview and Park Ave. The man offered to give me a ride to find someplace to sleep and recollect my belongings from a church I refuged to a couple days back to escape unjust living conditions,” she wrote in one of the tweets.
But on Sunday, the TPD, in a statement, said they found two bodies on Saturday night while following up investigation in a missing person case.
“At approximately 9:15 pm Saturday night, June 13th, TPD investigators arrived in 2100 block of Monday Road in the course of a follow up investigation in a missing person case. During the course of the investigation, two deceased people were located in the area,” the statement read.
“As the investigation continued, investigators developed a suspect. The suspect is now in custody and no more information is available at this time.
“The deaths are being investigated as homicides and have been turned over to TPD’s Violent Crime Unit. The investigation is ongoing and currently there are no more details available. More information will be released as the investigation progresses.”
Tallahassee Police✔@TallyPD
TPD is investigating a homicide on Monday Road. Two deceased persons were located in the area. A suspect is in custody. https://bit.ly/2B8DC3A
While the police didn’t disclose the names of the victims or specify the case, Ashley, a lady who claimed to be Oluwatoyin’s friend, shared the news of her demise on the microblogging platform.
Ashley@laurecapriI’m sorry to inform everyone about this but Toyin is no longer with us https://twitter.com/laurecapri/status/1271214953106718721 …
Ashley@laurecapriShe’s been missing since last Friday since she left me and my friends. Last time she was last sighted was at the BL Perry Library on Saturday then after that we haven’t seen her. If you know any info please contact me because I’m helping her mom. She’s somewhere on the south side https://twitter.com/tallycac/status/1270766179720859649 …
“I’m sorry to inform everyone about this but Toyin is no longer with us,” she wrote.
The development has sparked a flurry of negative reactions on social media platforms especially Twitter. Using the hashtag #JusticeForToyin, users have begun to demand justice for the teenager.
“To be brave enough to fight against the injustice towards the black community, especially men & then fall victim to one of your own, sexually assaulted & killed is beyond me . Your fight here has needed & you’ve found peace. We’ll bring justice to you, RIP Queen #JusticeForToyin,” a Twitter user said.
“#JusticeForToyin she was 19, posted about her rapist on twitter and was found dead a couple days later. she pleaded for help and nothing happened, then she went missing and turned up dead. & people wonder why we don’t report. rest in peace beautiful angel, we will fight for you,” another user said.
Here is what some users had to say:
gubler@vivian_v_To be brave enough to fight against the injustice towards the black community, especially men & then fall victim to one of your own, sexually assaulted & killed is beyond me . Your fight here has needed & you’ve found peace. We’ll bring justice to you, RIP Queen #JusticeForToyin
Rinu The Chemist@SavvyRinu
Toyin said “the same men I am risking my life for are the same one that are literally trying to hurt me”.
I felt that to my bones.
The enemy of a black man is a black man. Say her name! Find her killers!#JusticeForToyin
mara@pagetsmethyd#JusticeForToyin she was 19, posted about her rapist on twitter and was found dead a couple days later. she pleaded for help and nothing happened, then she went missing and turned up dead. & people wonder why we don’t report. rest in peace beautiful angel, we will fight for you
sᶻ ᵇˡᵐ 𝓉𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝓉𝑒𝓃@mindofcherriSHE WAS 19. HER NAME IS OLUWATOYIN “TOYIN” SALAU. SHE WAS SEXUALITY ASSAULTED AND MURDERED. SHE WAS AN ACTIVIST WHO SHOWED UP TO EVERY PROTEST SHE COULD. FIGHT FOR BLACK WOMEN LIKE YOU FOUGHT FOR FLOYD. THIS IS NOT OVER. #JusticeForToyin
rae jenkins@theraejenkinsrest in power toyin. i’m so sorry this happened to you. you deserved so, so much more. your words were incredibly powerful and moving, i’m grateful to have marched with you. #JusticeforToyin
Ariam@iambrattybTW: SA
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Oluwatoyin spent her last days fighting for black lives and we need to fight for her. Please help in identifying this man! #JusticeForToyin https://twitter.com/virgingrltoyin/status/1269348200084910081 …Oluwatoyin@virgingrltoyinMid 40’s lives in a gray painted duplex apartment style house drives a white clean Silverado Chevrolet truck https://twitter.com/virgingrltoyin/status/1269341695558275072 …
the sun’s daughter@ephrata
Protect Black Women. Stand up for Black Women. FIGHT for Black Women. #JusticeForToyin
miski✔@musegold
this hurts different. she was so vocal & tweeted about her abuser, she was an activist who was at every protest, she was a baby… literally 19. no one looks out for black women. all of this to say, i’m beyond heartbroken. #JusticeforToyin
Bria Celest✔@55mmbae
Toyin’s story really fucks me up. And it’s the story of so many other black women out here. I’m sick at the world we live in. #JusticeForToyin
Shawty Arabia@LemAli23She was 19… I am fucked up over this.
Her last tweets were just DAYS ago, she was sharing the story of her abuse. She went missing afterwards and was found dead.
We failed her when she was alive, but we cannot fail to get her justice now. #OluwatoyinSalau #JusticeforToyin https://twitter.com/virgingrltoyin/status/1269341695558275072 …
Oluwatoyin@virgingrltoyinAnyways I was molested in Tallahassee, Florida by a black man this morning at 5:30 on Richview and Park Ave. The man offered to give me a ride to find someplace to sleep and recollect my belongings from a church I refuged to a couple days back to escape unjust living conditions.
Lexi Underwood✔@LexiCUnderwood
I’ve said this before and I’m going to say it again, THE LEAST PROTECTED PERSON IN AMERICA IS THE BLACK WOMAN. THE MOST NEGLECTED PERSON IN AMERICA IS THE BLACK WOMAN. THE MOST DISRESPECTED PERSON IN AMERICA IS THE BLACK WOMAN. #JusticeForToyin
𝓛𝓸@lolotarot
Being a young black homeless woman is one of the hardest and most soul-crushing things ever. I can only attempt to imagine the amount of fear she felt. I wish I knew her. I wish I could’ve helped her. Say her name. Don’t let her name slip through the cracks. #JusticeForToyin
ouiss⁷ ☾@hopeworldanthemtoyin salau was 19 years old when she tried raising awareness for her experience with sexual assault and the man who did it to her. she was ignored and went missing. her body has been found. she deserves justice, this isn’t right. know her name #JusticeForToyin
Niggadamus@earftonesOluwatoyin “Toyin” Salau was murdered after speaking out about her own sexual assault, WHILE being a voice for countless Black men and women. Her death is our burden, and a reminder of how Black women deserve more than what we offer to them. It’s not okay
LISA gallant@LISAgallant13RIP Queen.
She had DNA evidence. She immediately went to the police. And you fools still said her story was “fishy” and questioned her instead of the perp. Fuck you. This is why sexual abuse victims are scared to come out. #JusticeForToyin #OluwatoyinSalau #blm #sexualabuse
Precious Thee Angel@preciousbeyondBeing a black women is so difficult. We are never listened, never protected, never supported always told to protect others and never given justice and love. #JusticeforToyin #RIPTOYIN
tía@allairsignsunnatural Black death happens every single day and i don’t know whats more devastating. the lack of justice or people wanting to ignore this problem entirely #justicefortoyin
This Oluwatoyin Salau. She was 19 and went missing after speaking about her sexual assault on twitter. Her body was recently found. Get her justice. RIP Angel 💔#JusticeForToyin pic.twitter.com/NglmFVp81x
—🇳🇬⁷ #JusticeForToyin (@melodramaleigh) June 15, 2020
Keeping It Two Virgils@EazyyyEl
This is the times where we need people to realize the upmost safety of our women is needed. There’s so little light in a world filled with darkness. Protect our women. This is not a phrase, but a standard we must live by. #JusticeForToyin
Mychal@mychal3tsLook at the beautiful smile of this 19-year-old human being. She should have been protected.
Oluwatoyin Salau was an activist fighting for black lives. I am wide awake with anger. Do not be silent. Fight for her, fight for black women. RIP Toyin
#JusticeForToyin
ti’anaALL BLM@tianawells1911
look at how beautiful and lively toyin was!! she was brave enough share the fact that she had been sexually assaulted & to use her voice for protesting yet she still got treated so shitty. it’s heartbreaking & i’m so tired of it. she deserved better. say her name #JusticeForToyin
