Tonto Dikeh Renounces ‘King Tonto’ Title, Sparks Debate After Viral School Deliverance Video

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has stirred conversations online after sharing videos of what she described as a deliverance session during an evangelism outreach at a school, weeks after completing a discipleship programme at Streams of Joy International, the church led by pastor Jerry Eze.

The actress recently celebrated graduating from a discipleship class at the church, sharing a video of her certificate and describing the experience as a spiritual rebirth that has transformed her life, faith, and purpose.

Further emphasizing her new spiritual journey, the 40-year-old announced on Monday that she would no longer use the nickname “King Tonto,” saying the decision came as an act of obedience to what she described as the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“It gladdens my heart that I can do this on the first day of March… God is marching me away from everything that is old and into the prophecies that are new every morning,” she said in a video posted online.

Dikeh also shared clips of an evangelism visit to a school where she claimed a teenage girl experienced a demonic attack. According to the actress, she sensed what she described as a “spirit of death” around the area while leaving the outreach with her team.

She said the group immediately began praying, after which a young girl approached her asking for prayer. The actress explained that the student had complained about repeatedly seeing bats around her.

During the prayer session, the actress said the Holy Spirit took control and the girl was delivered from the alleged attack. Videos shared online showed the schoolgirl appearing overwhelmed during the prayers while members of Dikeh’s team held her.

The actress said the moment confirmed what she believes is a ministry calling on her life.

“I was delivered from the marine world so that I may become an instrument in His hands to deliver others,” she wrote.

According to Dikeh, over 100 students reportedly gave their lives to Christ during the outreach.

However, the viral video has also sparked debate, with critics raising concerns about the legal and ethical implications of filming and sharing footage of minors online.

Nigeria’s Constitution of Nigeria 1999 guarantees the right to privacy, while the Child Rights Act protects children’s privacy and dignity. Additionally, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 may apply in cases where a child’s image or video is shared online without parental consent.

Opinion: A Spiritual Journey That Raises Important Questions

Tonto Dikeh’s spiritual transformation is clearly a deeply personal journey, and many supporters admire her willingness to publicly embrace faith and service.

However, the situation highlights an important issue: the responsibility public figures have when engaging with children, especially in sensitive settings like schools.

Religious outreach in schools is not uncommon in Nigeria, but filming a minor during what appears to be a distressing moment and sharing it on social media can easily cross ethical and legal boundaries.

For celebrities with large followings, good intentions alone may not be enough. There is a growing expectation that community outreach should prioritize dignity, consent, and child protection above publicity.

As conversations around this incident continue, it may serve as a reminder that charity, evangelism, and social media influence must be handled carefully—especially when young and vulnerable people are involved.