Tears flowed in Ilaro, Ogun State, on Monday as the remains of veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, were laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.
An emotional atmosphere enveloped the burial venue as family members, friends, colleagues and sympathisers gathered to bid farewell to the 66-year-old actor.
A video from the funeral procession showed mourners carrying Ogogo’s remains to his final resting place, while his close friend and colleague, Yinka Quadri, was seen crying uncontrollably as mourners tried to console him.
Several Nollywood actors, including Jide Kosoko, Faithia Balogun, Femi Adebayo, Mr Latin and Toyosi Adesanya, had earlier arrived in Ilaro for the burial. Ireti Osayemi, Bisi Omo Logbalogba and other colleagues, family members and well-wishers were also present.
Actor Bola Oyin-Adejobi paid tribute to Ogogo during an interview with journalists ahead of the burial, praying for the deceased to attain Al-Jannah Firdaus.
The burial followed the arrival of Ogogo’s remains in Ilaro, his hometown, on Sunday, a day after his death.
Ogogo died at about 3pm on Sunday at the age of 66, according to a burial announcement by veteran actor Jide Kosoko on his Instagram page. Kosoko had announced that the actor’s remains would be taken to Ilaro, where a lying-in-state ceremony would be held on Monday.
The Ilaro Muslim Community also announced the burial prayer for the veteran actor.
Ogogo’s death came days after his daughters, Kaira and Lima Taiwo, appealed for medical assistance for their father, who had been battling stage-four cancer.
Kaira had disclosed that doctors told the family they could no longer administer chemotherapy because of his condition, prompting them to explore alternative treatment options.
Ogogo was a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry, particularly Yoruba-language cinema. His career spanned more than four decades, during which he featured in hundreds of films and became one of the most recognisable faces in Yoruba Nollywood.