Actor Pete Edochie was recently the subject of a false death rumour, the latest in a long line of mistaken reports about Nigerian celebrities. False claims like this have become common on social media, often spreading during periods of illness, reduced public appearances, or misleading posts.
Several actors and musicians have had to publicly confirm they are alive, showing how persistent and disruptive these rumours can be.
Here are ten Nigerian celebrities who have at different times dismissed reports of their deaths.
Odunlade Adekola
Actor Odunlade Adekola has faced repeated death rumours. In 2017, he dismissed his fifth death rumour, assuring fans through social media that he was alive and well.
Tony Umez
Actor Tony Umez has also been wrongly declared dead online. He has publicly denied such reports at least once, urging the public to verify information before sharing. A notable surge in rumours about him occurred around September 2023.
Zack Orji
Zack Orji was falsely reported dead at least once, with major rumours circulating in March 2024. These followed his ICU admission and brain surgeries around December 31, 2023. The Actors Guild of Nigeria officially debunked these claims.
Lere Paimo
Yoruba film veteran Lere Paimo has dismissed death rumours through public appearances and statements. In November 2025, claims circulated that the 86-year-old actor had died after surviving two strokes, which he publicly refuted.
Chiwetalu Agu
Chiwetalu Agu has been falsely reported dead multiple times. Most recently in September 2025, he posted a video to reassure fans of his wellbeing. Earlier rumours also circulated in February 2020. He has spoken about the emotional impact these reports have on his family.
Ngozi Ezeonu
Ngozi Ezeonu has been the subject of multiple death hoaxes, with notable incidents occurring in early 2024 and again around May 2025.
Hanks Anuku
Hanks Anuku has faced repeated death hoaxes, including widespread false reports in 2020 and recurring rumours about his health and mental state in 2022. He has consistently debunked these claims.
Ebenezer Obey
Veteran juju musician Ebenezer Obey has been falsely reported dead more than a dozen times, with some reports claiming he had died 14 times as of September 2025. He has consistently debunked these hoaxes.
Pete Edochie
The 78-year-old, popularly known as Ebubedike, was most recently the subject of a false death rumour. He dismissed the report in a video while expressing frustration at being “killed” online multiple times, including seven separate hoaxes. He remains active and celebrated.
Olu Jacobs
Olu Jacobs has been falsely reported dead at least four times between 2020 and 2024. These reports followed his reduced public appearances due to health challenges, including dementia, and were consistently debunked by his family and the Actors Guild of Nigeria.
Industry stakeholders continue to warn against spreading unverified information, noting that such rumours cause distress to families and fans while contributing to the wider problem of misinformation online.
