Once popular Kannywood director Ashiru Nagoma slipped into depression in 2007 with the circulation of the Maryam Hiyana sex video, his relations told Fauziyya D Sulaiman of the Creative Helping Needy Foundation (CHNF).
Fauziyya Suleiman, who on Thursday announced that the foundation has taken charge of Nagoma’s treatment to help him out of depression, disclosed this to the BBC Hausa service.
“They said he (Nagoma) had invested his money in about seven films before the video leaked, leading the Kano State Film and Censorship Board to ban the release of any film featuring the then popular actress.
“That was when he slipped into depression because of the huge investment in the films, which he couldn’t even recoup let alone make any gain.
“It was obviously too much for him to bear and he had to leave the industry. Slowly his case deteriorated and affected his mental state,” Fauziyya said.
Fauziyya said she had contacted Kannywood stars through the Whatsapp forum to know why there was no attempt to help Nagoma all these years.
“They told me that Nagoma’s mother rebuffed their attempts to take him for treatment, but his mother said she won’t forgive anyone that took her son to a psychiatric hospital. So they all had to withdraw,” she said.
But Nagoma’s mother died about seven years ago and his condition worsened two years back. This is how the foundation is now able to take Nagoma to the hospital for treatment, after securing the consent of his relations.
Nagoma is now receiving treatment at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
Narrating how they were able to take him to the hospital, she said, “We met him at home; we went with the police who told him that he was under arrest for committing an offence, because he never believed he has a mental case.
“He kept asking what offence he committed all the way. That was how we were able to take him to the hospital.”
Fauziyya said Nagoma is suffering from depression but he is still able to engage in conversation and even use his phone. He also still visits Gidan Ɗan Asabe on Zoo Road where Kannywood stars frequent in Kano. His former colleagues used to give him money.
Ashiru Nagoma, who hails from Kano, is still a bachelor. Some of his works included Tutar So (which featured many stars of the time), Zakka, Bajinta, Ƙwalele, Tagwayen Mata, and so on.
