By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

Veteran Nollywood actor, Ebun Oloyede, popularly known as Olaiya Igwe, has cleared the air over reports that he is seriously ill after a video of him looking weak circulated on social media.

The video, which went viral in recent days, showed the actor appearing sick and struggling, leading some fans and social media users to become worried about his health.

However, Olaiya Igwe has explained that the footage was taken while he was filming a movie and was simply part of his acting role.

According to the actor, he was portraying a sick father in a movie directed by fellow veteran actor and filmmaker, Mr Latin.

He explained that the scene was performed so convincingly that some people who watched the video believed he was genuinely battling an illness.

Olaiya Igwe addressed the situation in a post on his Instagram page, thanking people who contacted him to confirm that he was safe and well.

He also expressed disappointment that some individuals appeared to celebrate the false reports about his health.

The actor said, “For those who are genuinely concerned, please relax. There is no problem. I was only acting my role, as you all know, I am a versatile actor.”

He further explained that the viral footage came from a movie production with Mr Latin, where he had been required to play the role of an ailing father.

Olaiya Igwe said the clip attracted different reactions after it was shared online. While some viewers understood that he was acting, others became genuinely concerned and reached out to check on him.

The veteran actor reassured his fans that he is fine and urged those who had been worried about him to disregard the reports suggesting that he was seriously ill.

He also criticised those he believed were happy about the rumours, saying he was disappointed by their reaction.

The clarification has since helped to ease concerns among his fans, many of whom had become worried after seeing the video circulating on social media.

Olaiya Igwe remains one of the recognised veteran figures in the Nigerian film industry, having appeared in numerous Yoruba-language movies throughout his career.