Colleagues left me to die, but God saved me — Halima Abubakar - Punch Newspapers

Nollywood actress, Halima Abubakar, has recalled the difficult period of her life when, according to her, some colleagues failed to check on her while she was sick.

The actress said she felt abandoned by people she expected to support her, but God saved her life.

She told Saturday Beats, “I didn’t say they abandoned me. We are not friends. You know how it is in an industry. When one person says one thing, every other person assumes that’s the truth. So, I don’t blame them. If somebody said something that was presumably said by me, the proper thing to do was to call me and ask me. You don’t go behind after telling me to write a report, and I write that report, you didn’t act on the report, and then you just give me an indefinite suspension. You didn’t visit me when I was sick, nothing. They didn’t send anybody. They just left me to die, but God said I will live.

“They don’t owe me anything, and I do not owe them anything. Someone I didn’t even expect told me this. But I’m here. God has been wonderful. You would not know that I’ve gone through what I’ve gone through. God has worked in me heavily because without God in my life, I don’t know what I would have done. But, it doesn’t change the love I have for my colleagues. Sometimes, they might not know what is happening, then when one person picks a narrative, that person will run with it and tell other people. So, I don’t know what they heard. It’s okay. I don’t judge them. I’m grateful for every experience. I was angry initially, but I don’t know what they’ve gone through, too.

“So many people didn’t expect me to survive, but I am here. I saw everything. Everybody’s character and the judgment they passed, I saw everything. But we’re not talking about the past. We’re talking about the future, and I’m a changed person. I’m changed, even the way I talk.”

Acknowledging the people who helped her, she said, “Among the musicians that I reached out to, Patoranking was one of the wonderful ones. I really appreciate him. I sent messages to Don Jazzy over 19 times but he never replied. Ahmed Musa was kind to me, too.

“But Mercy (Eke), Big Brother, shocked me the most, and I’m so grateful for her, and a few of my junior colleagues, including Destiny Etiko, Lizzy Gold, Monica Friday, Queeneth Agbor, and Regina Daniels, who gave me the biggest support, in terms of free medical treatment. It’s something I cannot say thank you enough for.”

Naomi Chima is an entertainment and lifestyle correspondent at Punch Newspapers with over three years of experience. She covers Nigerian entertainment, culture, and social events, conducts personality interviews, and contributes to features across desks. Her work demonstrates hands-on newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to engaging, accurate, and audience-focused journalism.

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