Some People Were Happy” — Olaiya Igwe Breaks Silence On Illness, D**th Rumours

Veteran Nigerian actor Olaiya Igwe has dismissed reports suggesting that he is seriously ill after a video showing him appearing unwell circulated widely on social media.

According to Ireporter Online, the video began trending on Thursday, September 10, 2026, prompting concerns among fans and members of the public over the actor’s health.

However, Olaiya explained that the footage was taken on a movie set and was part of a scene in which he was portraying a sick father.

The actor said the movie was directed by fellow actor and filmmaker Mr Latin, adding that his appearance in the scene was purely part of his acting role and did not reflect his actual health condition.

Olaiya also expressed disappointment over the reaction of some social media users who reportedly celebrated the rumours and appeared to wish for his death.

At the same time, he appreciated fans, colleagues and members of the public who contacted him to verify the reports and check on his wellbeing.

In a statement shared on his Instagram page, the veteran actor assured the public that he was fine and had no health condition connected to the viral video.

Olaiya said the scene was misunderstood by some viewers because of the convincing nature of his performance.

He explained that the production required him to portray a father battling an illness, which resulted in some people believing that the footage showed his real-life condition.

The actor noted that while some viewers recognised that he was acting, others became concerned and reached out to him to confirm whether he was actually ill.

He further criticised those he said were pleased by the rumours, describing their reaction as disturbing and expressing hope that their negative wishes would not come to pass.

Olaiya reiterated that he remains in good health and urged his fans and members of the public not to panic over the viral footage.

The incident has once again highlighted how scenes from movies can sometimes be mistaken for real-life events when clips are shared online without their original context.