Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing is mourning actor Chijioke ‘Cjay’ Nwokafor, whose death has shocked colleagues in the Nigerian film industry.
Blessing announced the actor’s death on Wednesday in a post on Instagram, but did not disclose the cause of his death.
The actress said the news was particularly difficult to process because she had spoken with Cjay at about 8am on the same day.
According to her, they still had plans before she received news that the actor had died only a few hours after their conversation.
“Cjay Nwoke Oma, so this is really the end? Omo we had plans. I spoke to you at 8 a.m. today and a few hours later you are no more with us,” she wrote.
Blessing also announced the postponement of her new movie, Egusi Ogbono, in which Cjay featured.
The film had been scheduled to premiere at 5pm on Wednesday, but the actress said its release would be delayed in honour of the late actor.
Cjay’s death has also drawn emotional reactions from other colleagues.
Actor Charles Born said he had intended to visit Cjay at a clinic, expressing disbelief over his death.
Actor Emeka Nwagbaraocha, writing on X, also said he had exchanged messages with Cjay only days earlier and struggled to come to terms with his death.
Cjay began his acting career in 2021 and appeared in productions including Larry Cold, Mum Overnight and A Day to My Wedding.
As of press time, the actor’s family had not released an official statement on the cause of his death or announced funeral arrangements.
