Death in the Nigerian entertainment industry for a long while seems to be better acknowledged than life for some reason. This is because the news of an entertainer’s death oftentimes earns more reactions from netizens than news of their birthdays.
In the age of social media, rumours and fake news can spread like wildfire, leading to stories that can cause unnecessary panic and concern.
Nigerian celebrities, in particular, have not been immune to death rumours circulating online.
Despite the false reports, some personalities have faced such challenges head-on, proving that they are very much alive and well.
Here are a few Nigerian celebrities who have been victorious over death rumours.
1. Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD):
Richard Mofe-Damijo, a veteran actor has also been a victim of death rumours.
In 2016, RMD was involved in a ghastly car accident in Delta state. His survival from the accident was regarded as a miracle due to the extent of damage done to the car from the accident which stemmed rumours that the actor was dead.
Addressing the false reports on his Instagram page, he assured his fans that he was very much alive and urged them not to believe everything they read online.
The husband of former TV presenter, Jumola, wrote: “Hello people, please I am not dead neither was I in a coma following my accident. I came out without a scratch by Gods grace.
“My wife Jumobi turned 40 today and its a happy day for the entire family. Please quell the rumours. Have a good night.”
2. D’banj
In 2012, Dapo Oyebanjo, better known as D’banj was rumoured to have died after he was shot by three gunmen in Atlanta.
Reacting to the flase news, the ‘Oliver Twist’ crooner wrote on Twitter(now X) saying: “Pls ignore the nonsense rumours. I’m very much alive and well! Thanks be to God! Thanks you 4 all ur concern.”
3. Sky B
A singer, Sky B has also been rumoured to have died in 2019 after suffering a heart attack and was found unconscious in his home.
The ‘Ma Bebe’ crooner, however debunked the rumours saying: “The rumor about my death started after acting a movie last week in Owerri, I died in the movie not in real life. The main one that hit the net was the one that happened yesterday around 2:30am I had an emergency which I was taken to the hospital and I called a few friends to pray for me and I updated on my status that I was critically ill and needed prayers only for me to come out after hours of taking drip to hear about my death rumor everywhere. I was shocked at first but, now I thank God today that I didn’t die and I can’t die and please let no one post anything about my death.”
4. Pete Edochie
Former broadcaster and actor, Pete Edochie, considered to be one of the continent’s most talented actors has also been the victim of death rumours.
In 2016, His son and actor, Yul, debunked the death rumours saying: “My father Chief Pete Edochie is alive and well. What do people gain from spreading these fake rumours without confirmation? Its just crazy.”
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5. Chiwetalu Agu
In February 2020, veteran actor, Chiwetalu Agu, debunked the death rumours circulating about him. Taking to his Instagram account, he wrote: “If you see such nonsense posts on Facebook, please report the owner of the account.”
6. Angela Okorie
Actress, singer and former model, Angela Okorie, has also had her fair share of death rumours.
In 2014, the actress was mistaken for another actress and declared dead on social media. Some had even started commiserating with her family before Okorie took to Instagram to assure her fans that she was very much alive.
She wrote: “I am not dead; I’m balling hard. As a matter of fact, 150 years have been added to my age. I bear the mark of Jesus Christ. RIP to all the people who used my photo on their blogs, newspapers, and social media status, saying I, Angela Okorie, am dead. I’m still the unstoppable moving train. My God is alive.”
7. Tony Umez
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In September 2023, actor Tony Umez was rumoured to have passed away.
The actor however, while debunking the rumours threatened to take legal action against the persons behind it as it is causing unnecessary distress to his loved ones and fans.
Taking to his Instagram account, Umez wrote: “Good day, my lovely people. I need to address this disturbing issue that has come to my attention. There are some unscrupulous individuals who have been using my pictures and videos maliciously, falsely reporting me as deceased in order to gain traffic to their pages.
“First and foremost, I want to assure you that I am very much alive and well. These false reports are nothing but baseless rumours spread by individuals with ill intentions.
“I will be taking legal action against these persons, as their actions not only infringe upon my rights but also cause unnecessary distress to my loved ones and fans.
“I understand the power of social media and the impact it can have on spreading information. However, it is disheartening to see how it can be misused by a few to spread false news for personal gain.
“I urge you all to be vigilant and only trust information that comes directly from me or my official channels. Love you all loads.”
The prevalence of death rumours in the age of social media is a reminder of the importance of fact-checking and responsible information sharing.
These instances serve as a testament to the power of social media in spreading both accurate and inaccurate information, and the importance of celebrities using their platforms to set the record straight.