Police arrest man ‘who produces prop guns for movies, parade him as robber’ – Movie Producers

Movie producers have identified the arrested man as a prop gun producer.

Movie producers have countered claims by the police over the arrest of a filmmaker in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Hector Ekike, a movie prop manager, was arrested by police officers with ‘prop guns’ on Monday.

NAIJA LIVE TV gathered that Mr Ekike was on his way to a movie location to deliver the prop guns when he was arrested.

The police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom State, Odiko MacDon, said in a statement that Mr Ekike was arrested with eight locally fabricated AK47 rifles, one pump action, one pistol and six dane guns.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is an elder who specialises in making and selling locally made rifles and other types of guns to criminal elements who use same in terrorising innocent members of the public,” Mr MacDon, a superintendent of police, said.

He said the state commissioner of Police, Amiengheme Andy, has ordered investigation into the case in order to arrest those “who enjoy his (Ekike) patronage and other conspirators”.

Checks by NAIJA LIVE TV revealed that Mr Ekike was credited as prop manager for Nollywood movies like Wicked Queen, Missing Princess, Broken Sceptre, and 1929.

Movie producers react

Aniebiet Francis, the state chairman, Association of Movie Producers, said that prop guns are used by movie producers because they are easier to get and safer than real guns.

“The prop guns are used for movies because sometimes, to get real guns from the police is a long journey, and many producers may not even have the resources. Sometimes, if you don’t have the connection, they won’t give you. So movie producers resort to these locally make-believe kinds of guns,” she said.

She said it was wrong for the police to circulate Mr Ekike’s picture on the internet and tag him a criminal when they have no evidence to that effect.

Ms Francis, assured that there were efforts to get the police to release Mr Ekike.

She said there would be training for filmmakers in the state to avoid a reoccurrence of such an incident.

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