The Nigerian film industry has been thrown into mourning following the death of fast-rising Nollywood actress Omotola Odunsi, whose passing was confirmed on Thursday.

Her colleague, actor Akinola Akano, popularly known as Segbowe, broke the news in a heartfelt Instagram post, expressing shock over her sudden demise. In the post, Segbowe shared screenshots of his recent chat with Omotola, in which she reassured him that she was recovering from an illness.

“Motola! Strange but I tried checking on you at the wee hours of that morning,” he wrote. “You said you were FINE & BACK! This is a rude shock, Omotola! Journey well, sister. God be with your family.”

Veteran actor Odunlade Adekola, under whose tutelage Omotola trained, also reacted with sorrow, writing simply, “Jesus Christ. RIP Omotola,” in a brief tribute on social media.

Omotola Odunsi was a promising talent in the Yoruba-language film industry and had made her mark in several productions. Her film credits include Lisabi: The Uprising, Officer Adaeze, Amonata, Ayanmo Ire, and Ifedayo.

Her untimely death has triggered an outpouring of grief from fans, colleagues, and Nollywood stakeholders, many of whom remember her as a passionate actress with a bright future.

The cause of her death has not been officially disclosed as of the time of this report.