Grief has returned to Nollywood as two young actors tragically died on set in Owerri, Imo State, after allegedly consuming a poisoned drink handed to them during filming. The incident occurred on Sunday, April 21, 2025, reigniting fears about a disturbing pattern of unexplained deaths within Nigeria’s film industry.
Footage shared by filmmaker Stanley Ontop showed a desperate attempt to save the lives of four cast members as they were rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri. Hospital officials confirmed two of the victims were dead on arrival, while the others remain under critical observation.
Shaken by the loss, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has called for urgent national prayers, describing the recurring deaths as “spiritual warfare” targeting the industry. AGN President Emeka Rollas, in a post on Instagram, announced that a collective prayer session will be held with Pastor Jerry Eze. Although the deceased actors were not AGN members, Rollas emphasized the need for divine intervention.
“This is barely one week after the memorial of our beloved Junior Pope, and now two more lives are gone in similar tragic circumstances,” Rollas wrote. “It’s no coincidence—last year, we lost four people in Asaba. This year, it’s almost the same pattern in Owerri. If not for God, the toll would have been four again.”
While authorities are yet to confirm the nature of the poisoning, insiders have called on the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to initiate strict protocols for on-set safety and ensure all food and drink provided during productions are tested. The producer responsible for the poisoned refreshments is reportedly under investigation, though official police statements remain pending.
The tragedy bears eerie resemblance to the April 2024 death of actor Junior Pope and three crewmates who drowned during the filming of The Other Side of Life in Asaba. That incident also drew national outrage and debate on accountability within the industry, yet no formal charges were pressed due to guild membership loopholes.
Film crews, actors, and fans across the country have begun sharing tribute messages with hashtags like #JusticeForNollywood and #NollywoodBlackSunday, urging the government to take stronger steps to protect creatives. Meanwhile, AGN insists the upcoming nationwide prayer rally will serve as both mourning and spiritual warfare against what it described as a “dark cycle of death.”
