By Uche Amunike
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has dissociated themselves from having anything to do with a supposed Nollywood producer, who was killed during an operation in Ladipo, Mushin, by the Lagos State Police Command’s Special Squad One Team, alongside eight other members of a notorious, kidnapping gang.
According to the Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, four AK-47 rifles, four locally made semi-automatic pistols, nine AK 47 magazines, three walkie-talkies and two operational vehicles, namely a black Toyota forerunner and a blue Lexus 350 were recovered from the suspects. He also stated that investigations were still ongoing to apprehend, other fleeing suspects.
After the operation, filmmaker and actor, Stanley Nwoko, posted photos of the movie producer and CEO of Ason-rich Movie Production, Henry Odenigbo, whom he said, was the leader of the kidnap gang that was killed during the shootout.
His words: ‘Dear @princehenryodenigbo, why did you die so quickly? We would have made you die slowly; we would have disgraced you very well before you died. But all the same, I wish you death after death. You came to Nollywood with your cursed money, and now you have given Nollywood a terrible name. The producer is also an actor self. Kingpin of kidnapper. May your wicked soul never rest in peace. Evil person.’
‘These are the pictures of the kidnapper Nollywood producer who was killed on Thursday. This is his handle @princehenryodenigbo. You can wish him more death after death.’
He subsequently posted that people who had subscribed to the YouTube channel of the late producer should unsubscribe from it, as his movies were made with proceeds from his kidnapping operations.
Odenigbo was said to have worked with famous actors like Yul Edochie, Eve Esin and Kelvin Ikeduba. He always acted bad boy roles where he would be seen wielding guns in movies like his most recent movie, ‘Blind Blood’.
He received an award for the ‘Best Filmmaker in Port Harcourt’ on March 16, 2024 from the Nollywood Indigenous Filmmakers of Nigeria (NIFMON). After some weeks of his receiving this award, on March 31, he was named Nolly TV‘s Best Grassroot Filmmaker for 2024/2025 by E-flex. On February 3, 2024, he held auditions for his Ason-Rich Movie Production in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The AGN has denied the membership of the deceased Nollywood producer killed in the police shootout, and three other person who were also film practitioners
Speaking, in a statement released by the chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the association, Osuwa Chigozie, he made it clear that the AGN had nothing to do with the so-called Nollywood producer killed in the recent kidnap shoot out in Lagos, as they were not members of the AGN.
The statement partly read: ‘The Rivers State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria at this moment disclaims any affiliation with the individuals who tragically lost their lives in a recent robbery incident in Lagos. Specifically, Prince Henry Asonna (Executive Producer of Aso Rich), Angel Emanuzo (Associate Producer), Chris Ahaneku (Logistics Manager-Aso Rich), and Jerry Eze (Camera Assistant) were not members of our guild. They were not part of our organisation.’
‘They have never been associated with our guild events and are not on our register. They were not affiliated with us to the best of my knowledge, and we condemn any false associations and news making the rounds that AGN members from Rivers State were involved in the kidnapping.’
On his part, veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo (KOK) advised the public via his Instagram page, against referring to the slain suspected kidnapper as a Nollywood movie producer. He expressed sadness about people leaving their trades and using Nollywood as a fertile ground to disguise their activities. He recommended the need to identify who an actor and producer was, while commending the Nigerian Police for making Lagos safe.
Hear him: ‘We must begin to identify who an actor and a producer is. While I commend the Nigerian police for making our Lagos safe, bloggers and influencers, please be mindful of those you refer to as Nollywood producers and actors. It affects some of us. We need to investigate. It is beginning to tarnish the reputation of those who practice and depend on this industry.’
The AGM has vowed to begin screening of candidates before making them members of the guild in order to avoid future occurrences. They also stated that they will begin to fish out the bad eggs from the industry through other established methods.
