Nollywood has been thrown into mourning following the reported death of special effects makeup artist James Akaie after an explosive device went off on a movie set in Abeokuta, Ogun State
If the reports filtering in are accurate, Nollywood may have been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of special effects makeup artist James Akaie, who reportedly died on a movie set in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Tuesday.
Freelanews gathered that Akaie lost his life after an explosive device mistakenly went off during filming, triggering panic and chaos on the set.
Details surrounding the incident remain sketchy as investigations are still ongoing.
An Assistant Director on the production confirmed that the explosion occurred unexpectedly while filming was in progress. The source disclosed that Akaie was fatally injured in the blast.
It was also alleged that two assistants who were working closely with Akaie at the time sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
James Akaie was widely regarded as one of the rising talents in Nollywood’s technical space. He gained industry recognition for his special effects makeup work on Dark October, a movie produced by media entrepreneur Linda Ikeji.
The project marked a major breakthrough in his career and positioned him as a sought-after creative in the fast-evolving Nigerian film industry.
Colleagues and industry stakeholders have begun expressing shock and grief over his sudden death, with many describing him as passionate, innovative, and deeply committed to his craft.
As at the time of filing this report, neither the film’s producers nor relevant authorities had released an official statement on the incident.
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It remains unclear whether safety protocols were breached or what type of explosive device was involved.
Freelanews will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.
This is a developing story.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
