Actress Cynthia Okereke, who was taken captive by kidnappers last year, has died at the age of 63.
The late actress’s colleague Joseph Okechukwu announced the sad news on his Instagram page on Wednesday, July 12.
The filmmaker revealed that he was about to pay for Cynthia’s flight ticket to come to the United States but she died on Tuesday night.
The death of the sexagenarian comes one year after spending days in kidnappers’ den.
Sharing her photo, Joseph wrote: “REST IN PEACE, Nwanyi oma. I’m shattered beyond words. The fact that I was about to pay for your flight ticket to come finish what we started only to here you went to be with Lord just last night is one of the toughest things I’ve ever had to deal with in recent times. I pray I’m able to recover from this shock. Life is really just a mist. One minute you have it, the next you don’t.
“For the more than 20 years that I’ve known you, you’ve been such an amazing, decent and lovely soul to be around. I never imagined you’d exit so unceremoniously. Words fail me.
“Sleep on, Cynthia. May your gentle soul rest on till we meet again in glory.”
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A source disclosed messages from a Nollywood WhatsApp platform to Qed.ng where it was revealed that Cynthia’s son confirmed the development.
“I just called her phone now. Her son answered and informed me that she passed on yesterday. I have verified and confirmed. I called director Israel Okenwa who called the son who told him that it is true.
“Since after that kidnapping thing, she has not gotten herself, she has been traumatised,” the messages read.
On August 4, 2022, Cynthia and her colleague Clemson Cornel, who were taken captive after a movie shoot at a remote location in Ozalla, Enugu State, were released by their abductors.
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) announced their release in a statement signed by its then-spokesperson Monalisa Chinda-Coker.
Monalisa said in the statement that the guild “has arranged for medical checks and psychological support for the victims.”
