Mr Ibu’s Family Reveals Struggles After Actor’s Death, Appeals for Support

The family of late Nollywood actor and comedian John Ikechukwu Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, has opened up about the challenges they have faced since the actor’s passing.

During a recent visit by content creator King Mitchy, the family revealed that Mr Ibu’s children have been forced to stop attending school due to financial difficulties.

According to the family, they have also struggled with basic needs, including living without electricity and running water for weeks because they have been unable to settle bills.

The children’s mother explained that the situation has been extremely difficult, revealing that they have had to fetch water from a well and find alternative places to charge their phones after their electricity supply was disconnected.

“We fetched water from the well because I have not paid the house rent. They even cut my light since two months now, no light since we have been like that every night we go to look for where to charge our phones and it’s not easy,” she said.

Mr Ibu’s daughter also appreciated her mother’s efforts in caring for the family and appealed to Nigerians, especially those who worked with her father in the entertainment industry, for assistance.

“I want to thank God for my mom, and she tried everything she can to feed us, pay our school fees, make us happy,” she said.

“So Nigerians, if you were in the industry with my dad, you’re seeing us now, come and meet us,” she pleaded.

The family also disclosed that the school recently contacted them over outstanding fees owed for the children’s education.

Mr Ibu, who suffered a serious illness that led to the amputation of his leg in November 2023 after undergoing several surgeries, died in Lagos on March 2, 2024, at the age of 62 following a cardiac arrest.

Opinion: Mr Ibu brought laughter to millions of Nigerians through his decades in Nollywood, and his family’s situation highlights the need for stronger support systems for entertainers and their dependants after their careers or lives come to an end. While fans often celebrate celebrities during their peak, long-term welfare planning remains an important conversation in the industry.