The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has issued an urgent call for national prayers following the tragic deaths of two actors on a movie set in Owerri, Imo State. The incident, which occurred after the actors consumed drinks provided by the movie producer, has once again raised concerns about safety and welfare in Nollywood productions.
According to reports from DAILY POST, filmmaker Stanley Ontop shared a distressing video showing four actors being rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Owerri. Sadly, two of the actors were confirmed dead on arrival. The victims were not members of the AGN, but their deaths have deeply affected the Nigerian film community.
AGN President Emeka Rollas responded to the tragedy on his Instagram page, calling for prayers alongside Pastor Jerry Eze to help the industry overcome this recurring pattern of loss. He lamented that “the devil still wants this pattern of mass death repeated on an annual basis” in Nollywood. Rollas noted:
“Barely a week after the memorial service of the late Junior Pope, our member, tragedy struck in Owerri involving two promising actors. They are not members of the AGN but this points to two things. The devil still wants this pattern of mass death repeated on an annual basis. If not for God the Owerri death toll could have been four persons. Exactly the same number last year in Asaba.”
This heartbreaking event comes exactly one year after the death of popular actor Junior Pope and three other crew members during the production of the movie *The Other Side of Life* in Asaba, Delta State. That tragedy also involved poisoning, and the AGN had previously noted the difficulty in seeking justice, as Junior Pope was not a dues-paying member of the guild.
The AGN’s call for prayers and increased vigilance highlights ongoing concerns about the safety protocols and working conditions within Nollywood. The guild urges all actors and film professionals to join the upcoming prayer outing with Pastor Jerry Eze as a collective effort to protect lives and promote safety in the industry.
As Nollywood mourns these losses, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter health and safety measures on film sets across Nigeria to prevent further tragedies.
