Tonto Dikeh Opens Up on 27-Year Addiction Battle: ‘I Started Smoking at 13’

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has spoken candidly about a decades-long struggle with addiction, revealing that she began smoking at the age of 13 and battled various addictions for 27 years.

The 40-year-old actress made the disclosure while sharing a personal testimony during a Sunday service at Streams of Joy International Church, led by Pastor Jerry Eze.

In an emotional account, Dikeh said her struggles went beyond smoking, adding that she also dealt with alcohol addiction, masturbation and prolonged anger issues, which she described as a form of “demonic oppression”.

“I smoked since I was 13,” she told the congregation. “God healed me from masturbation too. I have known myself to have sexual intercourse in the dream ever since I was a child.”

The actress said her smoking habit was influenced by her upbringing, explaining that her father was a smoker, a factor she believes contributed to her early exposure.

Using her experience as a warning, Dikeh urged parents to be mindful of the habits their children are exposed to, stressing the long-term impact such exposure can have.

She also revealed that she was recently delivered from what she described as “demonic anger”, an issue she said negatively affected her relationships and personal life for years.

According to Dikeh, her recovery and transformation began when she became more intentional about her spiritual life, crediting divine intervention for her freedom from addiction.

Following her testimony, Pastor Jerry Eze prayed for the actress, declaring that “the burden of sin is broken” and describing her as “a voice in her generation”.

Dikeh’s revelation has since sparked widespread reactions online, with many praising her openness and courage in addressing addiction and personal struggles publicly.