Film makers and stars who are plying their trade in Asaba, the Delta State capital, are currently gripped with fear, as armed robbers unleash mayhem on them while they are on locations shooting films. HVP gathered that for three weeks now, armed robbers have been on rampage, attacking defendless film makers and dispossessing them of the valuables. Our source in Asaba, said the situation is getting out of hand as the film makers and stars are currently living in fear in the city.
According to the source, last two weeks ago, actress Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha’s production bus was said to have been robbed at gun point. The actress was in Asaba to shoot an epic film, where the hoodlums waylaid her production team on the road and dispossessed of their valuables. Also, few nights ago, the hoodlums struck again, as they attacked another production bus belonging to a popular film director and actor, Ugeze. J. Ugeze, dispossessing the crew members of all their valuables including cameras, lens bag, money and expensive cell-phones. In a chat with HVP, on Whatsapp, the source lamented the increasing cases of armed robbers’ attack on film makers.
He described the ugly development as ‘a serious threat to the continued existence of Nollywood in Asaba.’ Lamenting further, the source, “This is what we are facing in Asaba at the moment, a direction confirmation that the security situation in the country is very pitiable.” According to the source, while the state government has done nothing to protect the interests of the industry operators in the state, the Police, however, has promised to stem the tide. “ The DPO of GRA Police station, Asaba, has visited the scene of the incident with his men, promising, however,to arrest the ugly trend. Meanwhile, the source said the victims have moved on with their lives after the ugly experience.
They are, however, calling on the Delta State government to provide security for them while they are on movie locations.
