As 2025 comes to an end, the digital footprints of a nation in mourning have been unveiled. Google has published its annual Year in Search report for Nigeria, offering a data-driven glimpse into the collective curiosity of millions. The 'Loss' category, in particular, paints a poignant picture, highlighting the ten public figures whose passing dominated search queries across the country and the globe.
A Nation's Digital Mourning: The Top Searches
The list reflects a diverse tapestry of influence, spanning the worlds of politics, sports, entertainment, and faith. Leading the rankings were individuals whose lives and legacies resonated deeply with the Nigerian public and international audiences alike.
Topping the chart was Diogo Jota, the 28-year-old Portuguese football star known for his time at Liverpool FC. His tragic death in a road accident in Spain in July 2025 sent shockwaves through the global football community, triggering an immense volume of searches from Nigerian fans.
In second place was Nigeria's former military ruler and two-term democratic president, Muhammadu Buhari. The retired Major General passed away in London in July 2025 at the age of 82 after a brief illness. His death prompted official mourning, public holidays in some states, and a massive online search for details about his final days and burial in Daura, Katsina State.
Global Icons and Local Heroes
The search interest was not confined to Nigerian figures. The list included prominent international personalities whose deaths became major global news events.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old American conservative activist, was the third most-searched death after he was fatally shot during a campus event in Utah in September 2025. The death of Pope Francis in April 2025 at the Vatican, which led to the historic election of the first American-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, ranked fourth.
Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea), who died of a cardiac event in July 2025 at age 71, secured the fifth spot, underscoring his enduring pop-culture status.
Nigerian Luminaries Remembered
The latter half of the list honoured beloved national figures whose contributions shaped various sectors of Nigerian society.
Reverend Dr. Uma Ukpai, the influential evangelist and humanitarian, passed away in October 2025 at 80. Nigerian football mourned the loss of legendary goalkeeper Peter Rufai, a hero of the 1994 World Cup squad, who died in Lagos in July 2025 at age 61.
The digital entertainment space felt the loss of rising skit maker Sanku (Raji Samad Adetola), who died in a road crash in September 2025. Nollywood actress Nkechi Nweje and veteran political operative Dr. Doyin Okupe, who both died in March 2025 after illnesses, rounded out the top ten.
This annual Google Trends report serves as a unique cultural barometer, capturing the moments of collective grief and curiosity that define a year. The 2025 data reveals a nation engaging with loss on a digital scale, seeking information and closure for figures who shaped their worldviews, entertained them, and led them.
