A man who posted a viral claim that veteran actor Pete Edochie had died has publicly apologised after the story was exposed as false.
The rumours began on Tuesday, when posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook claimed the 78‑year‑old had been rushed to hospital and had later died. Some messages also wrongly suggested that one of his sons had confirmed his death on Instagram.
In the aftermath, the person behind the original post, known on X as @Heismikel1, reposted the message with a public apology. In his apology, he wrote:
“I want to apologise to all Nigerians who must have been deceived and confused by this tweet about Pete Edochie’s passing. This is fake and was all fabricated by me. The legendary actor Peter Edochie is alive and healthy. Every news regarding ‘his demise’ is false, beware. I take accountability for the misinformation. To the family of Peter Edochie, my apologies. May your legacy continue.”
Reactions to the false claim and the apology appeared on social media, with many users criticising the spread of unverified information and warning others to confirm facts before sharing.
The Edochie family and independent checks confirmed there was no credible evidence that the actor had died. Verified profiles of his children showed no death announcement.
Pete Edochie himself addressed the rumours in a telephone interview, saying he remains alive and healthy. Describing similar hoaxes that have targeted him before, he said, “I’m alive and will die when my maker calls me home.”
Edochie, a respected figure in the Nigerian film industry known for his many classic roles, has been the subject of repeated false death reports over the years. He will turn 79 on March 7, and in the recent interview noted that longevity runs in his family.
Earlier false claims about his death have also been dismissed by his sons in the past, including a 2022 incident when his son Uche publicly denied a rumour that the actor had died in a car accident, saying his father “is fine” and had been the target of repeated hoaxes over many years.
