Emeka Rollas, President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), has broken his silence following a tragic incident on a film set in Owerri, Imo State, where two young actors lost their lives.
In an emotional Instagram statement, Rollas clarified that the victims were not registered members of the Guild, emphasizing that their participation in the shoot was independent of the AGN’s oversight.
“So sad some actors who are not members of the Actors Guild just lost their lives while filming in Owerri,” he wrote.
The tragedy, which occurred just days after a memorial service for the late actor Junior Pope, has reignited concerns over the increasing number of unregulated productions in the industry.
According to reports, four individuals were rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Owerri after allegedly collapsing on set, with two of them confirmed dead on arrival.
Though the exact cause remains uncertain, there are suspicions that the victims may have consumed contaminated food or drink while filming.
Rollas, reacting to the unfortunate news, expressed his grief and issued a stern warning to aspiring actors about the dangers of working outside established industry structures.
“Barely a week after the memorial service of our member, late Junior Pope, tragedy struck in Owerri involving two promising young actors,” he noted. “They are not members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, but this points to two things: the devil still wants this pattern of mass death repeated on an annual basis.”
In his message, Rollas drew attention to the eerie similarity between this recent incident and the death of four others in Asaba last year.
He described the recurring tragedies as more than coincidences, suggesting a disturbing pattern. “If not for God, the death toll in Owerri could have been four persons. Exactly the same number as last year in Asaba,” he lamented.
His statement also served as a call to spiritual vigilance within the Nollywood community. “Please let all actors and indeed Nollywood prepare for this year’s prayer outing with Pastor Jerry Eze,” he added, pointing to the importance of collective intercession in the face of these repeated losses.
Rollas didn’t shy away from criticizing the rise of unsupervised film shoots across the country, stating that the absence of regulation has turned Nollywood into a free-for-all. “We cannot continue like this,” he said firmly.
“Everywhere in the country, people just wake up and equip themselves with cameras, and they have become Nollywood. This is a bad trend.”
His comments highlight growing concerns about health, safety, and professionalism on set, especially as more informal content creators flood the industry without proper training or affiliation with recognized bodies.
To curb the problem, Rollas called for licensing and stronger regulation of film productions and content creators, warning that the current trajectory could lead to more needless tragedies.
“These people camp themselves in an unhealthy, unverified environment, making content,” he said. “Content creators have to be licensed.”
His appeal echoes long-standing conversations within Nollywood about standardization, accountability, and the role of guilds like the AGN in protecting the lives and careers of those who contribute to Nigeria’s growing film industry.
With this latest loss, the AGN President’s message is clear: the industry must prioritize structure, safety, and unity before more lives are cut short.
