The news of his ailment and the call for help from well-meaning Nigerians trended in the media for sometime.
When popular Nollywood actor, John Okafor a.k.a Mr Ibu publicly called out for help over his ill-health and the possibility that his two legs could be cut off if he did not get prompt medical attention, a lot of people thought he was up to his usual pranks.
After all, he was not known to be serious! Wasn't he always the one who cracked people up with his funny roles in movies and television sitcoms?
Funny Mr Ibu could not be that sick, they reasoned. That, probably affected the response he got. But it no longer looked like he was joking when he posted on social media his very declining state of health, and the need for his countrymen and women to come to his aid.
That was when help starting coming in. Prominent Nigerians, including former senate president, Bukola Saraki, singers, PSquare and Davido all made statements about rendering assistance. This would further galvanise further public support as more help came in for the likeable thespian.
Well, from what would later transpire, it seemed that that help may have come too late. Or did it?
The sad news hit the airwaves early this week when it was announced that one of Mr Ibu's legs had been cut off in a bid to save his life. According to reports, doctors reached the painful decision to amputate one of the actor's legs to avoid losing him to the cold hands of death.
They said it made medical sense after carrying out six successful surgeries for amputation to take place as there was no other alternative.
Well, the news came as a rude shock indeed. Fans are still trying to come to terms with the reality that one of their favourite actors will now have to walk with a fitted artificial leg for the rest of his life.
It's a bad dream that they are trying very hard to wake up from.
The family have since put out a statement thanking God for saving the actor's life in a bid to mitigate the impact of the news on the public.
But the fact still remains that Mr Ibu will never be the same again. Could his unfortunate experience had been avoided? Now, we may never know.
Side by side with when the Ibu story was trending also came the news that Amaechi Muonagor, another Nollywood star was down with an undisclosed ailment.
Pictures of the film star which circulated on social media showed a hitherto ebullient and robust Muonagor looking emaciated.
He, too, is seeking the public's help to get back on his feet.
For analysts, the two incidents represent a huge strain on a film industry that is striving to carve a niche for itself as one of the world's best.
But these stories that constantly make the rounds about it's practitioners dying, getting physically impaired or sick represents not only a setback but a stain on their image.
The more reason it has become imperative that closer attention be paid to the issue of welfare for serving or retired actors.
It appears calls the establishment of a trust fund to cater for actors and actresses who meet with such unfortunate calamities have largely fallen on deaf ears over the years.
The Okafor and Muonagor incidents once again exposes Nollywood's lack of a structure that responds to emergencies of the kind we just witnessed, and it is high time something urgent is done.
Yes, it is normal for people to be sick. But Nollywood knows that, by the nature of what they do, they are more likely to be talked about more than others because they are always in the eye of the public.
For the actors themselves, it is time they begin to save for the raining day, especially when their careers are in the ascendancy. Taking advantage of insurance schemes that caters for emergencies such as health challenges or sudden deaths should also be a priority for these actors.
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