The Nigerian movie industry has reported another loss. On Wednesday, the death of veteran Nollywood actress Cynthia Okereke was announced.

Actor and filmmaker, Joseph Okechukwu, who took to Instagram to share the unfortunate news, revealed that the 63-year-old passed on Tuesday, June 11.

Sharing a photo of Cynthia Okereke, he wrote: "REST IN PEACE, Nwanyi oma. I’m shattered beyond words.

“The fact that I was about to pay for your flight ticket to come and finish what we started only to hear you went to be with Lord just last night is one of the toughest things I’ve had to deal with in recent times."

Mr Okechukwu paid tribute to the actress calling her one of the amazing people he has known for more than two decades.

"I pray I’m able to recover from the shock. Life is really just a mist. One minute you have it, the next you don’t. For the more than 20 years that I’ve known you, you’ve been such an amazing, decent and lovely soul to be around. Words fail me. May your gentle soul rest on till we meet again in glory," he added.

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A post shared by Joseph Okechukwu (@kingestjoe)

This comes nearly a year after Cynthia Okereke and her colleague Clemson Cornell, aka Agbogidi, were kidnapped for a week while working in Enugu State in Nigeria.

When interviewed after her release, the actress said: “My BP is high, but to God be the glory for all of you. Your effort and your prayers ensured that Cynthia is alive. I will act for you people and continue to work for you.

She revealed that she was held for one week without food or water.

“They thought I was going away, but I am not. For a good one week, I was there without water or food. But today, I say God to you be all the glory forever and ever,” she added.

Read more: We were starved for a week – Nollywood actors recount kidnap ordeal