In a shocking turn of events that has sent ripples through Nigeria’s vibrant film industry, two seasoned Nollywood crew members were discovered dead under mysterious circumstances on a movie set in Lekki, Lagos. The incident, which occurred earlier this month, has raised questions about safety protocols on film productions and left colleagues and fans mourning the untimely loss.
The victims have been identified as Gabriel Emir, popularly known as GT or God’s Time, a respected lighting director and owner of a lighting equipment rental business, and Ayodeji, also referred to as Deji or Iodi, a talented cinematographer and creative video maker. The two, who were close friends and frequent collaborators, were found unresponsive in GT’s vehicle parked at the set near Evercare Hospital in Lekki Phase 1 on February 7, 2026.
According to details emerging from the production, the duo arrived early that Saturday to handle lighting and scene setups for an ongoing film shoot. After completing their initial tasks, they reportedly took a break in the vehicle with the air conditioning running. Around 11 a.m., members of the welfare team delivered food to them, which they consumed inside the car as principal photography kicked off.
Filming continued throughout the day without their direct involvement, with assistants stepping in where needed. It wasn’t until the wrap around 8 p.m. that the crew realized something was amiss. Upon checking the vehicle, they found Gabriel slumped over with foam around his mouth and Ayodeji unresponsive, showing no obvious signs of struggle or injury. The car itself appeared undisturbed, with no evidence of foul play such as broken windows or forced entry.
