Indeed, nobody knows the day, the time, or the hour. Life is so fragile, and death is such a painful reminder that none of us knows what tomorrow holds
By Moses Okorie
Nollywood actress Chiege Alisigwe has paid an emotional tribute to late actor Francis Duru, expressing shock and heartbreak over his death.
Alisigwe, in a touching social media post, described the actor’s passing as difficult to believe, recalling their shared experiences in the Nigerian movie industry and the journey they had undertaken together.
The actress explained that she had attempted to upload a throwback photograph of herself, Duru and other colleagues on Thursday but was unable to do so because of a network failure. The post eventually went through on Friday, coinciding with the painful news of his death.
According to her, sharing throwback photographs was her little way of appreciating her colleagues, celebrating their hard work, remembering their humble beginnings and reflecting on how far they had come in the entertainment industry.
However, what was intended to be a nostalgic celebration of their journey turned into a moment of grief following Duru’s death.
“Little did I know that the evil wind would blow today,” she wrote, expressing disbelief over the loss of her colleague and friend.
Alisigwe lamented that Duru had died too soon, reflecting on the uncertainty of life and the reality that nobody knows the day or hour of death.
“Indeed, nobody knows the day, the time, or the hour. Life is so fragile, and death is such a painful reminder that none of us knows what tomorrow holds,” she said.
Describing the news as heartbreaking, the actress questioned whether she was truly expected to accept that her colleague was gone.
“Oh, my brother, this is too painful to believe,” she added, accompanying her message with expressions of grief.
She prayed for God’s mercy upon the deceased, asking that his shortcomings be forgiven and that his soul be received into the heavenly kingdom.
The actress also prayed for divine comfort for Duru’s family, loved ones and colleagues mourning his departure.
“Rest in the bosom of the Lord, my brother,” she concluded.
Alisigwe’s tribute reflects the deep emotional bonds formed among colleagues in the movie industry, where years of shared experiences, professional struggles and collective achievements often develop into lasting friendships.
Her message also highlighted the pain of losing someone with whom she shared memories of the industry’s humble beginnings and its journey over the years.