The Nigerian film industry has been thrown into mourning following the reported death of actor Chijioke Nwokafor, popularly known as CJay Nwoks, at a hospital in the Badore area of Lagos State.
The actor reportedly died on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. His death was announced by Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday, who had recently cast him in a film scheduled for release that day.
In a video shared on her Instagram page, the actress expressed shock and grief over the loss, explaining that the planned release of the production would no longer proceed as scheduled.
According to reports by Tribune Online and Blueprint Newspapers, Blessing said she had spoken with the actor earlier on Wednesday before receiving news of his death.
Film Release Cancelled Following Actor’s Death
The film, titled Egusi Ogbono, was reportedly scheduled for release at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Following confirmation of the actor’s death, Blessing announced that the release had been cancelled.
The development shocked colleagues and members of the production team, particularly because the actor had been in contact with people close to him earlier that day.
As of the latest reports, the circumstances surrounding his death had not been publicly established, and no official cause of death had been disclosed.
Another Loss for Nollywood
CJay Nwoks’ death comes amid continued mourning in the Nigerian entertainment industry following reports of the death of veteran actor Olu Jacobs, whose family announcement was reported on September 16.
Jacobs was widely recognised for a career spanning decades across theatre, television and film.
While the two actors belonged to different stages of Nollywood’s development, their reported deaths have renewed attention to the contributions of performers to Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
CJay Nwoks began his acting career in 2021 and appeared in productions including Larry Cold, Mum Overnight and A Day to My Wedding, according to Blueprint Newspapers.
The actor’s death has prompted expressions of grief from colleagues, while further details concerning funeral arrangements and the circumstances of his passing remain awaited.