Popular Nigerian special effects artist, James Akaie, has died after sustaining critical injuries in an explosion that occurred during a movie shoot in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The tragic incident reportedly happened during a filming session when an explosion erupted in an effects preparation area located outside the main movie set.
Confirming the development, renowned film director and producer James Abinibi announced Akaie’s death in a statement shared on Friday via the official Instagram page of RockBottom Flix.
According to Abinibi, the explosion occurred while Akaie was testing an unauthorised pyrotechnic setup involving a gas cylinder, alongside two assistants.
“During a filming session, a sudden and unexpected explosion occurred in a designated effects preparation area outside the film set, where James was experimenting with an unauthorised pyrotechnic stimulation involving a gas cylinder alongside his two assistants,” the statement read.
Abinibi disclosed that Akaie was immediately rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment but later succumbed to his injuries. He added that the two assistants involved in the incident sustained burn injuries and were promptly transferred to a specialist hospital.
“They received prompt medical attention and have been confirmed stable as they continue to receive treatment,” he said.
The late James Akaie was widely respected within the Nollywood industry for his technical ingenuity and significant contributions to achieving realistic special effects in Nigerian films, with colleagues describing his death as a painful loss to the creative community.
