Renowned Nollywood actor John Okafor, fondly known as Mr. Ibu, has passed away after bravely battling illness.
Mr. Ibu passed away on Saturday at a hospital in Lagos, where he had been receiving treatment for a prolonged illness.
The President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, confirmed Mr. Ibu's passing on Saturday.
"With deep sorrow, I announce that Mr. Ibu has left us. He suffered a cardiac arrest, as revealed by his manager of 24 years," President Rollas shared on his Instagram page.
Mr. Ibu faced significant health challenges in 2023, remaining hopeful throughout his ordeal.
In a video circulating on social media in October 2023, the actor pleaded with his fans to pray for him as he battled a "strange and dangerous illness."
Doctors had recommended amputating one of his legs as a last resort.
"As I speak to you, I am still lying in the hospital bed; the medical director has suggested that, if all else fails, the best course of action is to amputate my leg," he shared from his sickbed.
Mr. Ibu implored his fans to pray fervently, expressing his reluctance to undergo amputation.
Additionally, Mr. Ibu's adopted daughter took to social media to appeal for support for her father's treatment abroad.
"For the past two weeks, my father has been very unwell, so we brought him to the hospital. We have done everything humanly possible; as a family, we thought we could manage, but his condition is not improving. Some days it seems like he's getting better, some days it seems like he's deteriorating," Jasmine said.
"We are in one of the best private medical facilities in Lagos, and they want to refer us to another hospital because his condition hasn't improved here," she added.
This isn't the first time Mr. Ibu's health struggles have made headlines. In March 2022, he announced he was battling food poisoning.
Born John Okafor, Mr. Ibu was an actor, stand-up comedian, and MC from Enugu state, Southeast Nigeria. He starred in hundreds of Nollywood movies both locally and internationally, known for his infectious laughter and comedic expressions.
In December 2023, rumors about Mr. Ibu's health circulated widely, alleging that both his legs had been amputated. However, a family member clarified on Mr. Ibu's Instagram page that only one leg had been amputated and that the first amputation didn't fully address his health issues, necessitating further surgery.
The family also clarified that Mr. Ibu's illness wasn't diabetes but rather "constant clotting of blood in his leg (diseased blood vessels)" along with other health challenges posing risks to his life.