The Nigerian film industry has been struck by tragedy following the sudden death of rising Nollywood actor Chijioke “Cjay” Nwokafor.

Actress Nkechi Blessing broke the news on Instagram, sharing heartfelt videos and expressing her shock. She revealed that she had spoken with the actor earlier that morning at around 8:00 AM, only to receive the devastating confirmation from the hospital a few hours later. Out of respect and in his honor, Blessing immediately canceled the scheduled 5:00 PM premiere of her new movie, Egusi Ogbono, in which Nwokafor starred.

Tributes Pour In From Colleagues

Fellow actors took to social media to share their grief and disbelief over the sudden loss:

• Charles Born shared that he had actively planned to visit the actor in the hospital before receiving the news.

• Emeka Nwagbaraocha expressed his shock on X, noting that they had been texting just days prior and mourning the difficulty of speaking about the popular actor in the past tense.

About Chijioke "Cjay" Nwokafor

• Career Beginnings: Entered the Nollywood industry in 2021.

• Notable Works: Starred in several productions, including Larry Cold, Mum Overnight, and A Day to My Wedding.

• Background: An indigenous native of Anambra State.

As of now, the actor's family and close colleagues have not released any further details regarding the cause of his death or announced funeral arrangements.