Hannatu Musawa, the minister of art, culture, and the creative economy, has mourned Junior Pope, and Saratu Gidado.
The Nollywood actor died on Wednesday after he fell into the River Niger in Asaba, Delta state on his way to a movie location.
Gidado, the Kannywood actress, also passed away earlier in the week.
Musawa, in a statement on Thursday by Nneka Ikem Anibeze, her special assistant on media, described the week as “a sad one” for the creative industry.
The minister also expressed her condolences to the families of Pope and Gidado.
“It is a sad week for us in the creative and movie industry and a black Wednesday. Losing two lives in three days is not only horrifying but colossal. We have lost great young talents and entertainment providers while generating content for Nigerian movie lovers,” the statement reads.
“We mourn and commiserate with their families. We stand by them at this tragic time and our thoughts are with all those who know them.”
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) earlier suspended all movies involving riverine locations, following the death of Pope.
Emeka, Rollas, the AGN president, said the production of the movie titled ‘Another Side of Life’, which the crew members were going to before losing their lives, has also been suspended.
The AGN president further instructed that no one should work with Adamma Luke, the movie producer, “until further notice”.
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