The family of veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has dismissed reports claiming that the 66-year-old actor has died.
Haleemah Taiwo, one of the actor’s daughters, described the report as false in an Instagram post on Tuesday, urging members of the public to stop circulating it.
Her reaction followed a viral Facebook post claiming that she had announced her father’s death after several hospitals allegedly refused to admit him.
Haleemah, however, rejected the claim, writing: “This is false!! This is false!!! THIS IS FAKE… PLEASE STOP SPREADING FAKE NEWS.”
The clarification came less than a day after Haleemah and her sister, Kira Taiwo, publicly appealed for medical assistance for their father, who is battling stage-four cancer.
Family appeals for medical help
In a video shared on Instagram on Monday, Haleemah said Ogogo’s health had deteriorated and alleged that some hospitals were no longer willing to continue treating him.
She said the family became aware of the seriousness of his condition about three weeks ago.
According to her, the family is not seeking financial donations but medical assistance from doctors, hospitals and individuals who may have access to appropriate cancer treatment.
“We are not asking for money. We need medical assistance for our father,” she said.
Kira also appealed for assistance in a separate video, saying the hospital currently treating their father had informed the family that it could no longer administer chemotherapy.
She called on oncologists and medical institutions capable of providing further treatment to reach out to either her or Haleemah.
Ogogo’s career in Yoruba cinema
Ogogo has been a prominent figure in Yoruba-language cinema for more than three decades, building a career as an actor and filmmaker.
The family’s latest appeal has generated widespread concern among his fans, while Haleemah’s clarification seeks to counter the false reports of his death.
As of Tuesday, the family had not announced the actor’s death.
