Tears Flow As Actor Ojopagogo Reveals Wife Died While Filming: “She Was My Strength

Veteran Nollywood actor Razaq Olayiwola, fondly known as Ojopagogo, has recounted the heartbreaking moment he lost his first wife, Funmilayo, while he was on a movie set.

The tragic event occurred in 2000, during the filming of a movie titled Osuwon in Abeokuta, directed by fellow actor Ebun Oloyede, popularly known as Olaiya Igwe.

Ojopagogo revealed that his wife was perfectly fine when he left home. In fact, she had encouraged him to take the role and even helped him prepare for the journey the night before by borrowing an umbrella during a heavy downpour.

“It’s a memory I struggle to revisit,” he said. “I lost someone who was like my backbone — the mother of my children. I initially didn’t want to go for that shoot, but she insisted I go. We were also planning our own film, Ejo Ori Apata, at the time.”

Despite her encouragement, Ojopagogo said he had a strange, uneasy feeling throughout the journey to the set. Upon arrival in Abeokuta, he was informed that a family member had been sent to meet him, though the reason wasn’t immediately disclosed.

“We hadn’t even started shooting that night when people on set urged me to return home,” he recalled. “During the trip back, I suddenly felt a strange breeze in the bus.”

Upon reaching Oyo, he was met by his father and a crowd of sympathizers, confirming his worst fears — his beloved wife had passed away.

“I was in disbelief. I told them nothing could be wrong with her,” he said. “It wasn’t until I returned to Ibadan that the weight of the loss truly hit me.”