Veteran Nollywood actor Ibrahim Chatta has announced the heartbreaking loss of his son.
The 54-year-old made the announcement on Saturday via Instagram, sharing a photo of the boy accompanied by a brief but deeply emotional tribute.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, Ya Allah,” he wrote, invoking the Islamic expression meaning “Verily we belong to God, and verily to Him do we return.” He continued, “You are the Knower of all things. Rest on, dear son, champ.”
The tragic news has triggered an outpouring of grief and condolences from colleagues, fans, and industry peers, who have flooded his comment section with prayers and messages of support.
This devastating loss comes just days after fellow Nollywood veteran Peju Ogunmola lost her only son, Ayomikun, in Ibadan—leaving the film community reeling from back-to-back tragedies.
Sadly, this is not the first time Chatta has endured the agony of losing a child.
In June, the actor opened up about a painful chapter from his past, revealing that his first child—a baby girl—died years ago due to poverty and a lack of proper medical care. He recounted the harrowing experience of having to bury her in an old wooden Coca-Cola crate because he couldn’t afford a coffin.
“My first child is not Malik. The first child I had died. She was buried in a crate of Coke, the old wooden crate of Coke,” he shared during an emotional interview.
Now a father of three surviving children, Chatta has spoken often about how the loss of his daughter profoundly shaped his perspective on fatherhood—especially his deep bond with his only daughter, Awawu, whom he describes as his greatest source of comfort.
As condolences continue to pour in, the Nollywood community stands in solidarity with the actor, mourning not only a young life lost but also the weight of grief borne by one of its own.
