At just 19, Nigerian content creator and streamer Habeeb Hamzat, known to fans as Peller, is grappling with the kind of pressure many don’t face until much later in life.
In a candid chat with TikToker Sandra Benede, Peller shared how being the primary provider for his family has drained him emotionally even though his parents and older siblings are still alive.
He spoke with a heaviness that’s become familiar for many young Nigerians thrust into adulthood too early.
Peller didn’t hold back.
“I’m not feeling okay. The other day, I slept off in my car till the next morning. I don’t like what I am facing in this young age. I’m not even up to 20 years. It is not fair.”
Those words hint at exhaustion not just of the body but of the spirit. He’s no longer eager to visit his family. Instead, he says he’d rather just send money and keep his distance.
READ ALSO: Content Creator Jadrolit Reveals, ‘I’m Battling Jaw Tumor
“I don’t like seeing my family anymore. I just send them things to make sure they are okay. I don’t like to see them again because my mentality is higher than living with my parents. My mentality now is higher than theirs. It feels like I’m their parent even though I have an elder brother.”
That role reversal where the youngest steps into the role of caregiver has left him burnt out. He’s imagined disappearing completely, even moving abroad and cutting off contact.
“I struggle like a parent. I don’t rest. Sometimes, I feel like running away to hide somewhere in America and go offline. I have been meaning to do it but I don’t want them to be worried. Before I used to miss my mum whenever I travelled as a child. But right now, I don’t miss any of my family members anymore. The only person I will mis is Jarvis. I communicate with my family through phone but I don’t miss them.”
What happens when a teenager carries the weight of an entire household? For Peller, it’s more than just a tough story it’s his reality.
Do you think young people should be made to feel this responsible?