By Ghazali Ibrahim
For years, reports of veteran actor Olu Jacobs’ death repeatedly surfaced on social media, only to be dismissed by his family and colleagues.
On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the reports were no longer rumours.
Jacobs’ family confirmed that the veteran actor had died at the age of 84, ending years of speculation surrounding his health and wellbeing. His son, Olusoji Jacobs, announced the death in a statement shared on social media.
The family described Jacobs as “The Lion of Lufodo” and appealed to bloggers and social media influencers to respect their privacy as they mourn.
The confirmation marks a striking contrast with previous occasions when social media users announced Jacobs’ death without confirmation from his family.
In June 2024, another wave of death reports spread online. His son, Olusoji, dismissed the claim and shared a video of his father with journalists to establish that he was alive.
The false reports were not new. Similar claims had circulated in earlier years, including in 2022, when Jacobs’ wife, veteran actress Joke Silva, publicly dismissed another report and warned that the family could take legal action against those spreading false information.
Jacobs’ prolonged absence from the public eye also fuelled speculation about his condition. In 2021, Silva disclosed that her husband had been battling dementia with Lewy bodies, a revelation that was followed by further speculation about his health.
Despite his later years away from the spotlight, Jacobs remained one of Nigeria’s most recognisable actors.
His career spanned theatre, television and film, including work in Britain before he became a major figure in Nigerian cinema.
His death at 84 now brings to an end the life of an actor whose name had repeatedly been prematurely placed in obituaries until his family finally confirmed his passing.
