Popular Nigerian actor John Okafor, nicknamed Mr Ibu, has had one of his legs amputated due to an undisclosed illness.
According to his relatives, the amputation is required to preserve his life.
On Monday, November 6, 2023, Mr. Ibu’s family sent a statement on his Instagram page expressing their continued best wishes for the iconic actor and their need for financial support from the public to help with his care.
“Good afternoon, Nigerians. We want to appreciate everyone who has come through for our dad.
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“Saying we are grateful is an understatement, and only the good Lord can thank you all enough for every help you’ve rendered.
“As of 1 p.m., today, Daddy has gone through seven successful surgeries. But to keep him alive and increase his chances of recovery, one of his legs had to be amputated.
“This development has been hard on us all, but we’ve had to accept it as Daddy’s new reality to keep him alive.
“Please, we are still soliciting support from well-meaning Nigerians as, at this stage, Daddy is still very delicate, and he needs all the help he can get.
“Thank you, everyone. The Okafor family is grateful and we don’t take you for granted. In due time, Daddy will personally acknowledge everyone who supported him during this period as soon as he’s stable.”
In October, Mr. Ibu had personally made a public request for financial support to help pay for the expenses associated with his undisclosed illness that had kept him bedridden for many weeks.
Even then, he claimed, his doctors had advised amputation in the event that no other treatment could heal his condition.
“While I am hoping for prayers and assistance, as I speak to you, I am still lying down in the hospital. The medical director of this hospital said that in case his new idea does not work, the next idea is to cut off my leg. Just see me, if they cut off my leg where would I go? Pray for me, I don’t want my leg to be cut off, thank you so much, God, bless you,” Mr Ibu said in a video that soon went viral.
He added, “Dear Good people of Nigeria, we are counting on your support at this point, we need it the most.”
