In response to the recent deaths of two actors on a movie set in Owerri, Imo State, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has called for national prayers, urging the film industry to unite spiritually during this troubling time.
According to reports, filmmaker Stanley Ontop shared a video showing four actors being rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri. Two of them were confirmed dead on arrival after reportedly consuming a drink provided by the film’s producer.
Reacting to the tragic event, AGN President Emeka Rollas took to Instagram to call for prayers, in partnership with Pastor Jerry Eze. While confirming that the victims were not AGN members, Rollas expressed deep concern over what he described as a recurring pattern of annual tragedies in Nollywood.
“Barely a week after the memorial of our late member, Junior Pope, tragedy struck again in Owerri involving two promising actors,” he wrote. “They are not members of the AGN, but this points to two things—the devil still wants this pattern of mass death repeated annually.”
Rollas added that the incident could have claimed four lives, mirroring last year’s tragic boat accident in Asaba that killed Junior Pope and three crew members during the production of The Other Side of Life. He urged all actors and members of Nollywood to participate in this year’s prayer gathering with Pastor Jerry Eze.
Last year, the AGN stated it could not take legal action against the producer of the Asaba incident, Actress Adanma Luke, as Junior Pope was not a dues-paying member of the guild.
