The glitz of Nollywood was shattered last Friday, April 18, 2025, when a celebratory wrap party turned into a nightmare in Owerri, Imo State. Two promising actors, whose identities remain undisclosed, lost their lives in what many suspect was a horrific case of poisoning, leaving the Nigerian entertainment industry reeling and fans clamoring for answers.
The fateful evening began with the high spirits typical of a film crew fresh off a successful shoot. According to reports, the team gathered at the residence of the movies director to toast their hard work. The menu was simple yet festive: rice, wine, and Calypso, a popular drink, all allegedly provided by the director. Laughter filled the air, but as the night wore on, an eerie silence descended. By 4 a.m., the director, roused to switch the power supply, stumbled upon a scene straight out of a horror script: one guest lay dead in the parlor, another lifeless nearby, and two others, including rising actor Evans and Director of Photography Nnunu, were unconscious, clinging to life.
Frantic, the survivors were rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Owerri, but for Evans and Nnunu, it was too late, they were pronounced dead on arrival. The two remaining victims, both men, are now fighting for their lives under close medical supervision. The Imo State Police, led by Commissioner CP Aboki Danjuma, have launched a full-scale investigation, arresting the director and three others present at the party. A post-mortem is underway to pinpoint the exact cause of death, with suspicions of tainted food or drink at the forefront.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Nollywood, already mourning a string of losses. This is a bad trend, lamented Emeka Rollas, president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), who noted the victims were not guild members. Rollas called for national prayers with pastor Jerry Eze, warning of a pattern of mass death haunting the industry, eerily reminiscent of last years tragedy in Asaba, where four crew members, including actor Junior Pope, perished in a boat accident.
Social media is ablaze with theories, some whisper of foul play, others saying the drinks were fake causing the death. A witness, Kaito Karisia, questioned the directors account, calling it incoherent and fueling suspicions of a cover-up. The AGN has urged actors to join the guild for safer working conditions, while scriptwriter KN Peter issued a stark warning to Death of Two Nollywood Actors After Alleged Poisoning: Be conscious of what you eat on set. In Imo, the Producers and Marketers Guild of Nigeria has suspended all ongoing productions as a mark of respect, plunging the local industry into a somber pause
What was meant to be a night of celebration has become a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities lurking behind Nollywoods glamorous facade. As the police probe deeper, the question hangs heavy: was this a tragic accident or something more sinister? For now, Nollywood holds its breath, mourning two lost talents and praying for the survivors, while the truth remains cloaked in mystery.
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