John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu was a Nigerian Nollywood actor and a comedian from Enugu State.
His death, announced on Saturday, March 2, 2024, threw colleagues and fans into mourning.
In October 2023, the veteran actor was reported ill and required financial assistance.
In November 2023, Okafor’s family confirmed that one of his legs had been amputated to keep him alive.
The amputation became necessary because of an infection of the arteries at the ankle that was not detected early enough.
Here are eight things to know about Mr Ibu:
1. John Ikechukwu Okafor was born on October 17, 1961.
2. He was a Nigerian actor and comedian.
3. The comic actor came to the limelight in 2004 with the movie “Mr Ibu.” featuring another popular actor, Osita Iheme.
4. Okafor acted in more than 200 Nollywood films including Mr. Ibu, Mr. Ibu and His Son, Coffin Producers, Husband Suppliers, International Players, Mr. Ibu in London, Police Recruit and many others.
5. On October 15, 2020, the veteran ventured into music and released two singles titled “This Girl” and “Do You Know.”
6. In 2012, Mr Ibu called for an end to homosexuality in Nollywood, he described it as akin to a virus.
7. He graduated from the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu State.
8. He died on March 2, 2023, at the age of 28.