The Anambra state police command says it will be conducting an exhaustive investigation into the boat mishap that claimed the life of actor Jnr Pope and four others.

A statement released by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the investigation will be carried out to ascertain the criminal liability of any person, if any, in the mishap.

The statement reads;

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Aderemi Adeoye, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of actors who lost their lives as a result of a Boat Accident which occured on the River Niger in the afternoon  of Wednesday,  10th April, 2024.

The boat, one of two that conveyed the crew to a film location in Anambra West LGA of Anambra  State, was returning to Asaba, where it took off from when the accident happened.

On being notified of the capsize, Anambra Command Marine Police deployed for rescue operations and successfully rescued six actors and one actress from the water.

Two others who were unconscious  were also pulled out with the aid of fishermen and conveyed to the Delta  State Command Marine Police Jetty where other members of the crew who travelled in the first boat were waiting and handed over to the President of the Actors Guild for conveyance to the Hospital while the rescue team went back in search of three others who are still missing as at the time of this release.

Although the accident happened within the jurisdiction of Anambra State Command, issues relating to release of bodies of the accident victims for a decent burial  are to be handled by Delta State Police Command.

The Commissioner of Police CP Aderemi Adeoye commiserate with family, friends and fans of the actors who died as a result of the boat mishap. He prayed Almighty God to grant their souls a sweet repose.

Preliminary enquiry has given insight into the cause of the accident. Exhaustive investigation has been ordered by the Commissioner of Police with a view to determining criminal liability of any person, if any, in the mishap.”

We rescued seven persons. Two died while three bodies are yet to be recovered- National Inland Waterways Authority speak on boat accident that claimed Jnr Pope’s life

The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has reacted to the boat accident that claimed the lives of actor Pope Odonwodo and four others in Anam river in Anambra state on Wednesday, April 10.

 

In an interview with Vanguard, NIWA Area manager, Suleiman Nicholas, said contrary to the claim that the incident happen in Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area, of the state, the accident actually happened at the Akpaka Area a suburb of Onitsha and Nsugbe Anambra East Local Government Area, when the victims were going to Anam, where they went to shoot a movie.

 

Nicholas disclosed that they were twelve in the ill fated boat, seven of the victims were rescued alive, two were recovered dead while three are still missing and out of the three missing, two are female, while one is male.

 

He stated that NIWA officials alongside Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and Marine Police are currently at the scene of the incident in Akpaka Area of Onitsha and Nsugbe, conducting rescue and recovery activities, with the men of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and Marine Police.

 

Asked if the popular Nollywood actor, John Paul Odobwido, aka Junior Pope was one of the dead victims, he said “my people said Junior Pope was one of the dead’.

 

WIth regards to the likely cause of the accident, the NIWA boss said

 

“Whatever you will get now as the cause of the incident may not be accurate, we are waiting for the report from my men who are at the scene of the incident, my men are on the water now to recover the remaining three missing victims”.

I am sorry. I only posted Jnr Pope’s corpse to let people know he is indeed dead – Actor, Jerry Amilo says

 

Veteran Nollywood actor, Jerry Amilo has apologized for posting a video of the corpse of late actor Jnr Pope online.

Amilo has been dragged on social media for the video he recorded shortly after Jnr Pope was certified dead by a doctor.

Reacting to the backlash he received, Jerry shared he recorded and shared the video just to let people know that the actor had indeed died because there were reports claiming he was alive.

 

He dismissed claims that he shared the video to chase clout. He also tackled Prince Eke who he accused of calling him out just to chase clout. Recall that many were uncertain Jnr Pope had died after reports of him being resuscitated surfaced online.

 

Bodies of makeup artiste and camera man have been recovered. Sound technician’s body still missing – Filmmaker, Stanley, says

 

The bodies of a makeup artiste and cameraman in the ill-fated boat mishap that occurred in Anambra state on Wednesday, April 10 have been recovered.

 

Recall that after the incident occurred, two bodies including that of Jnr Pope were recovered. According to filmmaker, Stanley, who was at the scene of the incident, the bodies of the makeup artiste and that of the cameraman have been recovered.

 

He disclosed that the body of the sound engineer is still missing.