James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set - TV/Movies

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James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by phosky(op): 8:40am On Jan 17

Film producer and director James Abinibi has confirmed the death of James Akaie, a special effects and pyrotechnics artist, following a fatal explosion on a movie set in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTkhXw7CKNq/?igsh=ejRuZnhqemg2bDQz

Popular Nigerian special effects artist James Akaie has died after sustaining severe injuries in an explosion that occurred on a movie set in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The tragic incident reportedly happened during a filming session when an explosion occurred at an effects preparation area located outside the main film set. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

The death was confirmed on Friday by renowned movie director and producer James Abinibi, who announced the development in an official statement shared on the Instagram page of RockBottom Flix.

According to Abinibi, the explosion occurred while Akaie was experimenting with 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.

Akaie was immediately rushed to the hospital following the incident but later succumbed to his injuries.

Abinibi further disclosed that the two assistants involved in the explosion sustained burn injuries and were promptly transferred to a specialist hospital for treatment.

“They received prompt medical attention and have been confirmed stable as they continue to receive treatment,” he added.

The death of James Akaie has sent shockwaves through the Nollywood film industry, with colleagues and fans mourning the loss of a skilled special effects expert whose work contributed to several movie productions.

The incident has also reignited conversations around on-set safety standards, particularly the use of pyrotechnics and special effects during film productions in Nigeria.

https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/01/17/nollywood-crew-member-james-akaie-dies-explosion/

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by meobizy(m): 8:48am On Jan 17

We’ve started doing pyrotechnics in Nollywood? Ah ah, since when? We’re finally moving to twenty-first century movie making?

phosky:
Popular Nigerian special effects artist James Akaie has died after sustaining severe injuries in an explosion that occurred on a movie set in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The tragic incident reportedly happened during a filming session when an explosion occurred at an effects preparation area located outside the main film set. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

The death was confirmed on Friday by renowned movie director and producer James Abinibi, who announced the development in an official statement shared on the Instagram page of RockBottom Flix.

According to Abinibi, the explosion occurred while Akaie was experimenting with 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.

Akaie was immediately rushed to the hospital following the incident but later succumbed to his injuries.

Abinibi further disclosed that the two assistants involved in the explosion sustained burn injuries and were promptly transferred to a specialist hospital for treatment.

“They received prompt medical attention and have been confirmed stable as they continue to receive treatment,” he added.

The death of James Akaie has sent shockwaves through the Nollywood film industry, with colleagues and fans mourning the loss of a skilled special effects expert whose work contributed to several movie productions.

The incident has also reignited conversations around on-set safety standards, particularly the use of pyrotechnics and special effects during film productions in Nigeria.

https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/01/17/nollywood-crew-member-james-akaie-dies-explosion/

cc: Mynd44 , Nlfpmod , Seun

20 Likes 3 Shares

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by BewareOf419: 9:01am On Jan 17

From Nollywood artists to gospel singers, 2026 must obey!

2 Likes 2 Shares

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by wallay77(m): 9:01am On Jan 17

Hmmmm....this is too early to start the new year

13 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by zinaunreal(m): 9:01am On Jan 17

I know some people will laugh

3 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by hoygift(m): 9:02am On Jan 17

Unauthorized pyrotechnics at that

15 Likes 1 Share

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by KobolanderSegun: 9:03am On Jan 17

phosky:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTkhXw7CKNq/?igsh=ejRuZnhqemg2bDQz

https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/01/17/nollywood-crew-member-james-akaie-dies-explosion/

Embrace ai or get ready to k pie

2 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by parags(m): 9:03am On Jan 17

phosky:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTkhXw7CKNq/?igsh=ejRuZnhqemg2bDQz

https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/01/17/nollywood-crew-member-james-akaie-dies-explosion/

RIP to him. See as them dey hammer on "unauthorized". This should be properly investigated .

24 Likes 1 Share

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by mactoni91(m): 9:04am On Jan 17

May he rest in peace...

However, he looks Gay.

26 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by southsouthking(m): 9:05am On Jan 17

Oh no not again.
Nollywood should be checkmated

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by Rhymesy(m): 9:05am On Jan 17

We no dey even get better headline news again for Naija. RIP bro

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by NtoAkwaIbom(m): 9:06am On Jan 17

dem dong the talk 'unauthorised" jus to distance self

in all U do, no go die, Wen U win, dem go say daring and adventurous, when U die dem go shenk U, talk say U no d hear word

42 Likes 2 Shares

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by chudez0147(m): 9:06am On Jan 17

May his soul rest. He died in active service.

8 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by autoez: 9:07am On Jan 17

So sad But let's all remember we will all die one day. Carry shoulder down my brothers and sister.

😢

6 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by amaridigital(m): 9:08am On Jan 17

meobizy:
We’ve started doing pyrotechnics in Nollywood? Ah ah, since when? We’re finally moving to twenty-first century movie making?

Whao, are you celebrating Nollywood use of Pyrotechnics in 2026? Are we dead in this country or what?
I could still remember Michael Jackson's Pepsi advert Pyrotechnics accident 42 years ago. Shame on those who fought for our so called independence.

16 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by RollinTNDA: 9:11am On Jan 17

This is really sad but untim

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by GanagiBitrus: 9:11am On Jan 17

Every job has it's hazards.

But a good safety culture will put barriers in place to eliminate or at least reduce the impact of such hazards.

RIP to the dead.

13 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by iwaeda: 9:13am On Jan 17

Safety is key at every situation. angry

4 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by Empresa: 9:14am On Jan 17

May his soul RIP.

In everything you do, your mantra should be SAFETY FIRST. If your personal safety is not guaranteed, don't try it.

5 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by KnowledgePower7: 9:14am On Jan 17*

R.i.p young man.

My Cousin is into Film effect @mikeldfusion_vfx on Instagram

We have young talents in computer graphics
Major film industry no longer use pyrotech
They use CGI 3D explosion and Fire
To protect their highly paid actors like Tom cruise from incidents like this

My cousin does CGI explosion
I even joke that he is wasting time in Nigeria with such talent. He should go abroad
And it looks so real,
Instead of using real fire to injure your actors
Hire a CGI artist and you can explode anything without actually exploding it.

Look at his Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DB7KYCQGV/
Look at this car explosion
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLlkQq3gpK2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

We have CGI artist in Nigeria
But producers don't want to spend money for quality effect. They rather burn their actors with real fire and real explosion.

While Hollywood use 3D Visual effect for dangerous things like explosion.

Some examples
Explosion in field
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1WQjAqoBR2/

Ojuelegba explosion
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F7Gitqcu3/

That explosion you see is 3D CGI effect
It is what Hollywood use instead of real explosion 👇

Look at India Bollywood
They invest in CGI and have one of the most realistic effects on film.
Nollywood has talents yet they are wasting

Checkout his Instagram for more fire effects
https://www.instagram.com/mikeldfusion_vfx?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

10 Likes 2 Shares

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by meobizy(m): 9:15am On Jan 17

Better late than never.

x

amaridigital:
Whao, are you celebrating Nollywood use of Pyrotechnics in 2026? Are we dead in this country or what?
I could still remember Michael Jackson's Pepsi advert Pyrotechnics accident 42 years ago. Shame on those who fought for our so called independence.

1 Like

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by Exceed15: 9:16am On Jan 17

Jesus! This is painful ooo...

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by Northernblood7(m): 9:16am On Jan 17

One less gay the world is

4 Likes

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by Lanretoye(m): 9:18am On Jan 17

So small small effects now don Dey kill person?…anyway may his soul rest in peace,na occupational hazard ,he died in active service

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by Exceed15: 9:18am On Jan 17

zinaunreal:
I know some people will laugh

Na u sef get evil mind .. ow can laugh about this tragedy

1 Like

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by chiboyjohn: 9:18am On Jan 17

died In active service

Not enough original content
Please take a moment to write a quality post with at

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by Agricmoney(m): 9:20am On Jan 17

my condolences. The Nigerian film industry should also include artificial intelligence in to it's production to curtail hazards. They have tried in their production and kudos to them.

Anyway, Agriculture is life

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by buygala(m): 9:21am On Jan 17

mactoni91:
May he rest in peace...

However, he looks Gay.

So he deserves to die because he looks gay?

Only God knows why he lets some of you live

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by merits(m): 9:22am On Jan 17

phosky:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTkhXw7CKNq/?igsh=ejRuZnhqemg2bDQz

https://eyesoflagos.com/2026/01/17/nollywood-crew-member-james-akaie-dies-explosion/

safety first in anything we are doing.RIP to him.

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by ChengHun(m): 9:24am On Jan 17

Computer can be used to create the effects,.
RIP

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by Brendaniel: 9:24am On Jan 17

May his soul rest in peace.

Re: James Akaie Dies In Explosion On Movie Set by Mirasteel: 9:25am On Jan 17

Worst way to die. May his soul rest in peace.

1 2 Reply

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