Veteran Yoruba actor Ebun Oloyede, popularly known as Olaiya Igwe, is not battling the serious health condition claimed in a viral social media video.
The footage, which circulated widely on Nigerian social media on Thursday, September 10, 2026, showed the actor being assisted into a building while appearing to struggle to walk. It prompted claims that he had become seriously ill and could no longer walk without assistance.
However, the actor has dismissed the claims, explaining that the footage was taken from a movie in which he portrayed a sick man returning home from hospital.
Olaiya Igwe addressed the viral video in a recent interview and said he was in good health.
He explained that the scene required him to act as a sick character who needed help getting into his house. His performance was intended to make the scene appear realistic, which led some viewers to mistake the footage for a real-life incident after it was shared without its original context.
There had also been no public statement from the actor or his colleagues confirming that he was suffering from a serious illness before he addressed the video.
Some users on X and Instagram had questioned the authenticity of the footage and suggested that it was taken from a film.
The actor thanked people who contacted him out of concern and sent him messages of goodwill.
He also condemned those he believed were pleased by the false reports about his health, issuing a warning against anyone wishing him harm.
The viral footage, therefore, does not provide evidence that Olaiya Igwe is currently suffering from the illness claimed in the posts. The actor’s own explanation identifies it as a scene from a movie rather than footage of an actual health crisis.
Fact Check: Olaiya Igwe Is Not Battling Illness, Viral Video Was Movie Scene
