Veteran actor Abija shares heartbreaking story of losing wife, two kids

By Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi

Veteran Yoruba actor Tajudeen Oyewole, known as Abija, has shared that the most heartbreaking moment of his life was losing his beloved wife and two children.

The 66-year-old actor revealed that this tragic event deeply impacted his acting career, leading to periods of depression.

“The saddest moment of my life was when my beloved wife (Iya Biodun) passed away. It was just four days before the Sallah festival that year,” he recounted.

Abija, renowned for his mystical roles, continued, “I had already bought a ram for the family to celebrate the Muslim Festival when the tragedy struck. I had to travel from my home in Ibadan to perform in a stage play in Lalupon, Iwo, and other towns. The show was scheduled for the evening, so I embarked on the journey in the morning. Before leaving, I prayed with my family and wished them a happy celebration in advance.”

He shared that he was unaware that this would be his last moment with his wife.

Upon reaching Lalupon, he was surprised to see his younger brother, who had been with the family, already at the venue.

“I was shocked to see him there. He told me my wife was critically ill and needed an operation to survive. I told him it was too late to travel back that night, so we decided to leave before daybreak the next day. I didn’t know my wife had already passed away. He had informed many of my colleagues about her death at the event. When I got home, I found my beloved wife’s body.”

Abija also revealed that after his wife’s death, he lost his two daughters as well.

He believes these tragedies were a result of a spiritual attack from his former boss, with whom he had a misunderstanding during that period.

Recently, the legendary actor turned to social media for financial help from his fans. During a live session on TikTok, Abija posted his account details in the comments, appealing for assistance.