Veteran Nollywood actor Ibrahim Chatta has shared a deeply emotional experience from his past, revealing that he lost his first child because he couldn’t afford to pay for hospital treatment.
In a heartfelt interview with Abiola Orisile of Events & Parties TV, 54-year-old actor Ibrahim Chatta revealed that his baby girl passed away before he could gather the funds needed for her medical treatment.
Desperate to save her life, Chatta recounted trekking for hours across multiple areas of Lagos from Ijora-Badia to Orile, Lawanson, Costain, and eventually Makoko— retracing the very routes he once walked while hawking puff-puff.
Despite his relentless efforts, Ibrahim Chatta was unable to raise the money in time, calling it one of the most heartbreaking moments of his life.
“My first child isn’t Malik. I lost my first child. The hospital demanded payment for her treatment. I walked from Ijora-Badia to Itolo in Orile, then through Lawanson to Costain and Makoko — areas I once roamed selling puff-puff. I couldn’t gather the money until she passed away,” he recalled, holding back tears.
The Ayinla actor also revealed the extent of his financial hardship at the time, saying he couldn’t even afford a proper coffin.
“She was buried using a wooden Coca-Cola tray,” he said.
Chatta revealed that he kept the painful story to himself for many years, only opening up to his partner during a trip to Dubai after purchasing a diamond anklet for their daughter.
“Their mother seemed confused and said she wasn’t the one who had the child. I then explained that I once had a daughter who died, and shared how it happened. They all broke down in tears. No one had ever heard that story from me before,” he recounted.
Now a proud father of three, the actor expressed deep gratitude for the blessing of fatherhood and shared his desire to grow his family even more.
“I love all my children. God has given me three. But I still want more,” he said.
