•IGP Egbetokun (inset)
The police have arrested 46 Nollywood actors and crew members in Akwa Ibom State.
According to a written plea by an actor, Moses Eskor, to the police authorities for the release of the actors and sighted by The Frontier this night, the artistes and crew were arrested along Ikot Ekpene Plaza while shooting a protest scene in a movie titled ‘Tears of the Citizens’.
“They were arrested with cameras and film-making equipment and most of the crew were wearing T-shirts with the name of the movie on it,” said Eskor who is also a Special Assistant on Entertainment to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Eskor said when he received a call from one of the arrested actors, he arrived the police at about 5pm and pleaded with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at the station but, in spite of identifying himself as well as pleading that the actors were only shooting movie scenes, the police conveyed the arrested actors to the State Police Command headquarters and detained them.
Eskor hinted that, from the information gathered from the DPO, the Inspector General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun has already ordered that the 46 movie actors be conveyed to Police High Command in Abuja.
In his plea, Eskor said, “I write to humbly beg for their freedom, I admit that they should have taken permission from the police before going to shoot a protest scene, the film director is a first timer and I beg for his mistake
“Please I humbly beg for forgiveness from relevant authorities. Please”.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) confirmed the arrest. She rather played down the seriousness of the case and the aspect of conveying the actors to Abuja. She assured The Frontier that the matter will be sorted out by tomorrow morning.
