The atmosphere was filled with wailing and tears on Monday in Ilaro, Ogun State, as the remains of veteran Nollywood actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, were being conveyed to its final resting place.
Family members, friends, colleagues and sympathisers gathered for the burial rites of the 66-year-old actor were overtaken by emotions with many crying and wailing.
A video from the funeral procession showed mourners carrying Ogogo’s remains as they moved towards the place where he would be buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
Ogogo’s close friend and colleague, Yinka Quadri, who was seen crying uncontrollably at the venue of the funeral as mourners attempted to console him.
Grief seized the actor’s colleagues and loved ones, who had come to bid him farewell.
Earlier, Nollywood actors, including Jide Kosoko, Faithia Balogun, Femi Adebayo, Mr Latin and Toyosi Adesanya, arrived in Ilaro for the burial.
Also present were Ireti Osayemi and Bisi Omo Logbalogba, alongside other colleagues, family members and well-wishers.
Actor Bola Oyin-Adejobi also paid tribute to Ogogo during an interview with journalists ahead of the burial, while praying for the deceased to attain Al-Jannah Firdaus.
The burial rites came a day after Ogogo’s remains were taken to Ilaro, his hometown, following his death on Sunday.
Ogogo died at 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 informed the family that they could no longer administer chemotherapy because of his condition, prompting the family to seek other treatment options.
The actor was a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry, particularly known for his contributions to Yoruba-language films.
His career spanned more than four decades, during which he featured in hundreds of films and became one of the most recognisable actors in Yoruba cinema.
