A tragic accident has claimed the life of a rising star in Nollywood's technical community, James Akaie, a talented special effects makeup artist. He was killed in a devastating explosion involving a prop bomb on a film set in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to reports from crew members, the incident occurred during preparations for a bomb scene. After the prop device failed to detonate as planned, the director instructed the SFX team to remove it so the scene could be improised. Akaie and two of his assistants took the bomb kits to the back of the set to investigate the malfunction.
Catastrophic Malfunction
While the team was examining the device, it suddenly exploded. The blast was catastrophic, killing James Akaie instantly. The two assistants with him were severely injured and are currently in a coma.
Chaotic Aftermath and Hospital Rejections
In the immediate aftermath of the explosion, the injured crew members faced a harrowing struggle for emergency care. They were reportedly turned away by five different hospitals in Abeokuta on the night of the incident, complicating the urgent medical response.
They have since been admitted and are said to be responding to treatment, though their condition remains critical.
A Rising Talent Lost
James Akaie was widely respected within the industry and had gained significant recognition for his work on notable projects, including his special effects makeup for the film *Dark October*, produced by media entrepreneur Linda Ikeji.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian film industry, raising urgent questions about safety protocols, the handling of pyrotechnics and special effects equipment, and emergency medical preparedness on film sets across the country. An investigation into the cause of the malfunction and the overall safety procedures on the set is expected to follow.
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