Nollywood Guild calls for prayers as two actors die from poisoning on set

In response to the rising death toll in Nollywood, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has called for national prayers.

This plea comes after the tragic deaths of two actors on a movie set in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.

Popular filmmaker Stanley Ontop shared a video showing four actors being rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Owerri, with two of them confirmed dead upon arrival.

The unfortunate incident reportedly occurred after the actors consumed a drink provided by the movie producer.

Emeka Rollas, the AGN president, reacted to the situation with a post on his Instagram page, urging for national prayers alongside Pastor Jerry Eze.

He emphasized that although the victims were not AGN members, the incident highlights a troubling pattern of annual deaths in the industry.

“Barely a week after the memorial service for our member Junior Pope, tragedy struck again in Owerri, involving two promising actors,” Rollas stated. “While they are not members of the AGN, this points to a concerning issue. The devil seems intent on repeating this pattern of mass deaths each year. If not for God’s intervention, the death toll in Owerri could have been four, which matches the number of deaths last year in Asaba. I urge all actors and the entire Nollywood community to prepare for this year’s prayer gathering with Pastor Jerry Eze.”

In 2024, well-known actor Junior Pope and three other crew members lost their lives during the production of the film “The Other Side of Life” in Asaba, Delta State.

Following that tragic incident, the AGN noted that it was impossible to sue the producer of the ill-fated film, Actress Adanma Luke, stating that Junior Pope was not a dues-paying member of the guild.