Veteran Nollywood actress, Jumoke George, has opened up in a emotional interview on how she started living in a church six years ago, while battling illness and the heartbreak of a missing child.

Speaking in tears on the TalkToB show hosted by fellow actress, Abiola Adebayo, Jumoke said she hid her predicament due to shame and fear of public ridicule.

The veteran actress explained that her health began to deteriorate earlier this year which forced her to cancel scheduled acting jobs.

She said, “There are some things that are embarrassing to say but at this point, I have no choice. I want to speak out. I am working but it’s not like I get jobs every time.

“Sometimes, it could be once in three to four months. That was before I became ill. After I became ill, I couldn’t go for a set I was invited to. Someone paid me since last year, I didn’t know I would get sick, I spent the money on treatment. I had to borrow money to refund the person.

“I went to another location but I couldn’t work. They had to bring me back because of my health. I’ve done several tests. I was told to do some more which will cost about N400,000. I don’t know where to get the money from.”

Six Years of Homelessness 

Still speaking through her tears, the actress disclosed that she has been living inside a church for the past six years after being evicted from her apartment due to rising rent she could no longer afford.

“The house rent became high and I couldn’t afford it anymore. The landlord told me to leave, I begged but what can I do?” She said.

She added that the church leader gave her a small space to stay which she had to keep secret from many people because she was embarrassed.

“Daddy told me to bring my things to a place he got for me but it was too small, it couldn’t even contain my things, so I had to put my luggage with different people. The things I worked for all my life were just getting spoilt.

“I was given a small room to manage, so I didn’t let people know where I was staying, except a few people who I didn’t even take to the room.

“Everyone in the church has access to the room. I only welcomed guests in daddy’s living room downstairs where they hold events like harvest.

“So, I’ve been living in the church for about six years. This is where I put my mattress to sleep,” she said pointing at a space on the floor inside the church.

“It’s mummy church that gives me food to eat most times. Daddy died about two years ago, mummy church has also been trying. She buys drug for me and boils herbs for me.

“I’ve been living in the church. I couldn’t speak up because it was shameful. I was embarrassed,” she added.

Missing Daughter, Son In Debt

Jumoke’s pain doesn’t end with her health or homelessness as she revealed that her first child, Adeola, has been missing for four years.

“My first child, Adeola, has been missing. I’ve been looking for her for the past four years. Any small money I get from working was spent on looking for her.

“She was in Ibadan where she was working and living with my mother. So my mother just called me one day to say that she hasn’t seen Deola who said she was coming to meet me in Lagos. I said I haven’t seen her,” Jumoke recalled.

She disclosed that Adeola, however, called one day to beg for forgiveness and informed her that she migrated with some friends in search of a better life but they met something different.

Jumoke said, “Then one day she called me with a strange number, I had no idea where she was calling from, she said I should forgive her. I asked to know where she was, she said I should just forgive her that she doesn’t know where her journey will lead her to.

“She said some of her friends told her that they should travel to a certain country that she didn’t mention to find greener pasture but when they got there, they met a different situation.

“Since then, I haven’t heard anything from her. I’m the one taking care of her children because I’ve not seen the father of the children since they separated when the children were younger. I don’t have his number, I don’t know his town, I don’t know where to find him. She was born in 1984, she clocked 41 on May 1, this year. If she was here, at least we’ll be managing together.”