Veteran filmmaker Mo Abudu, actress Omoni Oboli and several Nollywood stars have paid emotional tributes to late actor Alex Ekubo following news of his death.
The actor’s passing, reported on Tuesday, has thrown Nigeria’s entertainment industry into mourning, with colleagues and fans sharing messages of grief across social media platforms.
According to The Guardian Nigeria, Oboli described the actor, popularly known as “Ikuku,” as her “bestie” in an emotional Instagram post.
“I’m devastated. My bestie! Why? We had a plan! Where do I start from?” she wrote.
Abudu, Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife Group, reflected on their relationship and revealed that Ekubo fondly called her “Mum.”
“We hadn’t spoken in a while… I never imagined there wouldn’t be another chance,” she wrote, describing the late actor as “loving, real, kind, and always so respectful.”
Actress Kate Henshaw said Ekubo supported her during the loss of her mother two years ago.
“I wanted a chance to repay you for your kindness… but not like this, Alex,” she wrote.
Actress Yvonne Jegede also expressed shock, saying she struggled to process the news.
“Are you telling me I will never see Ikuku again? So I won’t hear him scream CHOCO with a big smile again?” she wrote.
Actor Kunle Remi described Ekubo as “a good man,” while actress Ruth Kadiri said she had regularly checked on him and feared the day would come.
Other entertainers, including Ini Dima-Okojie, Bucci Franklin, Dayo Amusa and Johnny Drille, also mourned the late actor.
Ekubo’s death was announced by colleagues including actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele, who disclosed that she had tried to see him before his passing.