The family of veteran Nigerian actor Pete Edochie has formally petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s domestic security agency, to arrest a TikTok user responsible for spreading a false report of the actor’s death.
This action follows widespread online rumours that the 82-year-old Nollywood icon had passed away, a claim his family and management swiftly and categorically denied. His eldest son, Leo Edochie, initially dismissed the reports in a viral Instagram video, terming them a malicious falsehood.
In a subsequent statement on his verified Facebook page on Thursday evening, Leo Edochie provided specific details of the family’s response. He identified the TikTok user by the handle @ONE_BOR_001 and announced that he had engaged the DSS to locate and apprehend the individual.
“Anyone with information that will lead to his arrest will be handsomely rewarded in cash,” Leo Edochie stated, adding that the security agency was already pursuing the person of interest. He urged the public to send tips directly to him via direct message, promising immediate monetary reward upon the suspect’s arrest.
Pete Edochie, a Highly respected figure in African cinema with a career spanning decades, is no stranger to death rumours, which occasionally surface on social media. The latest incident highlights the growing challenge of misinformation targeting public figures and the lengths to which families may go to counter such narratives. The involvement of the DSS underscores the serious legal view with which Nigerian authorities regard the deliberate propagation of false information, especially when it causes public alarm and distress to families. The case is expected to proceed upon the suspect’s apprehension, potentially setting a precedent for addressing similar digital falsehoods.
