President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima has debunked an online report claiming that veteran actor, Pete Edochie, had died after falling off a cliff in Austria.Fiberesima said in a telephone interview with newsmen"PUNCH " that Nigerians should disregard the report.
“It is not true at all,” she said in the SMS.
A website, Global Associated News, claimed that Edochie died while filming a movie in Kitzbühel, Austria early Saturday.
“Preliminary reports from Austrian Police officials indicate that the actor fell more than 50 feet to his death in a remote area of the Hahnenkamm Mountains while on-set during the filming of a movie.
“Specific details are not yet available. The accident occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. (UTC/GMT +12).
“Additional details and information will be forthcoming,” the report said.
The false report created a buzz on social media as commentators sought to find out the truth.
In May 2011, another website claimed that popular Nigerian musician, Innocent Idibia aka Tuface, fell off a cliff while on vacation in the Carribeans.
The report was swiftly denied by the singer’s publicists.
Such hoax online reports are not uncommon as faceless persons exploit the anonymity offered by the internet to spread false reports about celebrities, especially movie stars and musicians.