In response to yet another tragic loss of lives within the Nollywood industry, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has issued a call for national prayers.
This appeal follows the recent deaths of two actors on a film set in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. Filmmaker Stanley Ontop had earlier shared a video showing four actors being rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri. Sadly, two were confirmed dead upon arrival.
According to reports, the unfortunate incident occurred after the actors allegedly consumed a drink provided by the movie’s producer.
Reacting to the heartbreaking news, AGN President Emeka Rollas took to Instagram to urge the Nollywood community and the nation at large to join in prayers led by Pastor Jerry Eze. He expressed concern over what he believes is a recurring pattern of yearly mass deaths in the industry.
Rollas clarified that the deceased were not registered members of the AGN but emphasized the disturbing similarities between this incident and past tragedies.
“Just a week after we held a memorial for our late member Junior Pope, this sad news comes from Owerri. Although the victims weren’t AGN members, it feels like the devil is determined to maintain this annual pattern of loss in Nollywood,” he wrote.
He added that, had it not been for divine intervention, the death toll might have reached four—mirroring the number of lives lost last year in Asaba during the filming of The Other Side of Life, which claimed the lives of Junior Pope and three others.
The AGN had previously stated that they couldn’t pursue legal action against the producer of that film, Adanma Luke, since Junior Pope was not an active dues-paying member of the guild at the time.