Sh*ck In Kannywood: Actor Umar Ascon Passes Away

According to reports monitored by Ireporter Online, the actor passed away after battling a prolonged illness. His death was confirmed by Kannywood producer and neighbour, Abubakar Yahaya Matinko.

As gathered, the actor died on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano State. He is survived by his pregnant wife and two daughters.

Family members, colleagues and sympathisers later gathered for his funeral prayer at Al-Masjlisul Islami Mosque, located near the Gade-Gade Filling Station in Kano, where he was laid to rest in line with Islamic rites.

Before making a name for himself in the film industry, Ascon was reportedly engaged in business activities at the Hotoro Depot in Kano. He later ventured into acting and gained recognition through his role in Garwashi, as well as appearances in other Hausa-language productions including Wata Shida and Manyan Mata.

Meanwhile, the entertainment industry has also been hit by another loss following the death of veteran Nigerian gospel singer and songwriter, Toun Soetan, popularly known as Evangelist Shouet, at the age of 73.

The respected gospel minister was widely known as the original composer of the popular Christian chorus Darling Jesus, a song that has remained widely sung in churches across Nigeria for decades.

Reacting to her passing, a former Secretary of the Oyo State chapter of the Entertainment Writers Association of Nigeria, Kunle Bakare, described the late singer as a spiritually gifted minister whose music carried deep messages and inspired many believers. He added that she would also be remembered for establishing a music college where she trained numerous gospel musicians, many of whom have gone on to become prominent figures in the industry.