Junior Pope
By Publisher
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The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has blamed the death of Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, and seven others in a boat mishap on ignorance and failure to follow safety protocols.
Speaking during a safety sensitisation campaign in Onitsha, the commercial hub of Ananbra State, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director of NIWA, disclosed that the victims neither registered their boat nor wore life jackets.
He added that their demonstrations inside the boat also distracted the operator, leading to a collision with a wooden object that capsized the boat.
He stressed the importance of following safety rules, which included boat registration and wearing life jackets, and warned boat operators and passengers to comply to avoid severe sanctions.
The safety sensitisation campaign, which was attended by boat operators, stakeholders, and community leaders, involved demonstrating the use of life jackets.
NIWA reiterated its commitment to ensuring safety on Nigeria’s waterways and urged all stakeholders to adhere to safety protocols, adding that it would collaborate with stakeholders and state governments to sensitise communities living along the banks of River Niger about the impending 2024 flood.
The Nollywood actor, Junior Pope, popularly known as Junior Pope, died in April alongside three crew members after their boat capsized on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta State, on their way to a movie location for the shooting of ‘Another Side of Life” being produced by Adanma Luke.
Veteran actor and SA to the President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Military Relations, Mr Steve Eboh, who was was part of the production Associates of the ill-fated movie, shed light on what actually happened.
According to him: “I was part of the production Associates of the movie, ‘Another side of Life.’ On that day, I was supposed to be on that set. But somehow, I got to the location very early when the cast and crew were not yet there. I went back home, hoping that they would call me when they arrived. But the next thing I heard was what happened and the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Chief Emeka Rollas called me, and instructed me to move to Asaba to ascertain the situation. The incident didn’t happen in Asaba, rather it happened in Anambra State. But the take off point was Asaba.”
He further revealed:“The producer of the film, Adanma Luke was supposed to be in the boat. But somehow, she forgot something and had to rush back to the hotel to pick it. That was how she missed the boat. But when the accident happened, we were asked to perform some rituals by the riverside before we recovered Jnr Pope’s body alongside the other victim. They were already dead when they were bought out of the water.
“I was at the riverside when they brought their bodies out of the water. At that point, I invited the police to take their corpses to the mortuary, but the supreme argument prevailed that we should take them to the hospital first for the doctors to confirm them dead.”
As if he had a premonition of his impending death, Junior Pope was seen shortly before the boat mishap, saying he was the one to train his children and not ready to die.
After the accident, the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, had lit a ray of hope when it reported signs of life. However, the hope was tragically extinguished hours later after the AGN confirmed that all efforts to revive him failed.
The 42-year-old Junior Pope left behind his wife and three children.
