The Nollywood industry raised concerns a few weeks ago about the trend of physical altercations among actors, crew members, and production staff.
While disagreements are expected on a movie set, the fight between Nollywood actress, Peggy Ovire and her colleague, Taiye Arimoro, has sparked serious conversations about safety, professionalism, and mental health, as a new challenge confronting the industry.
In this article, Naijaonpoint highlights some Nollywood stars who have been involved in physical altercations at movie sets.
1. Peggy Ovire and Taiye Arimoro: Nollywood actor, Taiye Arimoro had accused Peggy of physically assaulting him on November 11, 2025, when his contract ended at 11:59 PM, but he was blocked from leaving the set.
Arimoro said the production manager first stopped his vehicle, and another car later blocked the exit.
Feeling unsafe, he began an Instagram Live to document what was happening.
The dispute escalated at the estate gate, where Ovire and her team allegedly confronted him.
He said his tyres were deflated, several people surrounded him, and he suffered injuries, including a fractured jaw, bite marks, and bruises.
However, Peggy, in a letter through his lawyers, insisted that Arimoro is twisting the entire incident, stating that the movie star tried to flee immediately after the incident, and any attempt to stop him was to prevent him from escaping before police arrived.
They maintained that Peggy never assaulted him, explaining that the only physical contact was when she “pushed him lightly” after he allegedly attempted to deflate her tyres.
2. Femi Branch and Assistant Director: In June 2025, ace Nollywood actor, Femi Branch, made headlines after he was accused of assaulting a first assistant director during a production, but later apologised.
A video that went viral at the time showed Femi Branch attempting to leave the set while being restrained by crew members. The actor repeatedly questioned the director, asking whether he had been invited on set to be embarrassed.
In response to the incident, the Film Crew Community released an official statement. It read, “On 18 June 2025, during a production shoot, an actor, Femi Branch, physically assaulted the first Assistant Director on set. He slapped the first AD in the presence of witnesses, violating not only professional boundaries but basic human decency. Under pressure, an assurance of apology was given. Filming resumed under the 1st AD’s instruction, and the actor later apologised to the 1st AD and the entire crew. We commend the entire production crew for standing firmly against violence and upholding respect and integrity on set.”
3. Zubby Michael and Godwin Nnadikwe: Nollywood actor, Godwin Nnadikwe, called out his colleague, Zubby Michael, online over an unplanned and forceful kick during filming.
Nnadikwe claimed the kick was not part of the script and was not directed by the filmmaker. The actor also said he suffered internal pains and was admitted to the hospital.
In an Instagram post, Nnadikwe wrote, “Just wanted to share an incident that happened on set a few days ago. This isn’t to call anyone out, but it’s a serious reminder to prioritise each other’s safety on set. During a scene, I received a kick to the chest from my colleague, which wasn’t part of the script or directed by the director. It’s caused me serious pain and had to get medication for my chest to feel better today. I did all these by myself. No assistance. When we’re working without insurance policies or readily available first aid, unexpected physical actions like this, even if accidental, can have real consequences. Let us commit to sticking to the script and ensuring everyone feels safe and respected.”
4. Shirley Igwe and Crew Member: In July 2025, the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria suspended actress Shirley Igwe over the alleged assault of a crew member on a film set in Lagos.
In a letter signed by its president, Emeka Rollas, the AGN also advised all members to refrain from working with her.
5. Anierobi “Nwa South” Courage and Mary Eze: In October 2025, there was outrage online after Nollywood production manager and casting director, Anierobi Courage, popularly known as Nwa South, was arrested for allegedly assaulting the head of makeup artists, Mary Eze, on a Lagos film set.
The Nigerian Film Crew Community also released a statement at the time condemning Courage’s actions.
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