Fresh facts emerge on how Junior Pope, others died in tragic boat mishap

New findings have revealed that Nollywood actor John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, did not have access to a life jacket, countering viral stories claiming he had refused one before the tragic boat incident on April 10 at the Anam River in Anambra State, which claimed his life and that of four others.

Prince Uvo Kevin Oghogho, Chairman of the committee set up by the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) to investigate the accident, refuted claims that a life jacket was offered to the late actor by the boat operators.

“No life jacket was provided to the late actor,” Oghogho stated. He noted that only two passengers, the Director of Photography and the Sound Engineer, were wearing life jackets, which they had hired from the boat operators.

“When the accident occurred, the operators quickly brought out new life jackets. They had not been making life jackets available to passengers previously,” he said.

Oghogho, who also serves as the AGN National Taskforce Chairman, made this revelation in an interview with a Vanguard reporter shortly after presenting his committee’s findings to the National Executive Council of the guild in Lagos. The report was issued three months after the accident.

Detailing the events leading up to the mishap, Oghogho explained, “The outboard engine fibre boat conveying the cast and crew of the movie produced by Adamma Luke departed Asaba jetty with Ononno jetty as the destination. As they embarked on the journey at about 12:30 pm, according to the survivors, Junior Pope was making a video while his colleagues on board were having fun with him.

“The boat driver’s attention was drawn to the scene as he looked back to catch a glimpse of the action while traveling at high speed. He eventually crashed into a crossing local fishing canoe, leading to the speed boat capsizing and emptying all the occupants into the Anam River. Five passengers died on the spot, while seven were rescued alive,” Oghogho recounted.

Oghogho dismissed rumors that Junior Pope was killed and then thrown into the river, explaining that another victim also bled from the nose, not just Junior Pope.

He added that the doctor attached to the marine police, who recovered Junior Pope’s body and that of another victim named Friday, performed CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on-site and confirmed them dead before their bodies were taken to the morgue in Asaba.

Oghogho’s committee recommended that the Ministry of Transportation or the Inland Waterways mandate the provision of life jackets for all passengers before boarding water transportation.

“There’s also a need to educate our colleagues on safety measures because we tend to take risks,” Oghogho concluded.

The funeral of Nollywood actor Junior Pope was held at his hometown Ukehe, in Nsukka, Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.