In the last 48 hours, social media erupted with claims that Pete Edochie, the towering Nollywood actor famed for his gravelly voice and iconic role as Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart, had passed away.
Posts on X and TikTok cited vague “hospitalised” or “confirmed dead” reports, sparking alarm among fans.
A thorough review of credible sources shows these claims are false.
Edochie, 78, has repeatedly been the target of death hoaxes. In 2012, Channels Television and the Actors Guild of Nigeria debunked reports that he died after a fall in Austria, confirming he was alive and well.
Similarly, in 2022, when blogs claimed he had died in a car crash, his son Uche Edochie publicly stated:
“My dad is fine. No, he is not dead, and he has not been in an accident.”
A February 10, 2026, fact-check confirms the latest rumours are misinformation.
No credible Nigerian or international media, including BBC Pidgin and Channels TV, reported his death, and the family issued no statement.
Analysts note that posts spreading false celebrity deaths often aim to attract attention, a pattern seen repeatedly with Edochie.
Despite the rumours, the actor remains alive. His legacy, spanning decades in Nollywood, remains undiminished.
From his breakthrough in Things Fall Apart to countless roles that shaped Nigerian cinema, Edochie is a symbol of longevity and gravitas in the industry.
The evidence is clear: Pete Edochie is alive. The viral posts are recycled falsehoods, amplified by social media algorithms.
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Fans are urged to rely on verified sources before sharing shocking claims, as history shows these hoaxes resurface every few years.
