Award-winning Nigerian actor and filmmaker, Junior Pope Odonwodo died in a tragic boat accident, while returning from a movie location on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old actor, along with some crew members, drowned in the Anam River in Anambra after their boat collided with another boat. According to reports, the bodies of some of the drowned crew members are yet to be recovered.
Upon noticing some body movements, Junior Pope was rushed to St. Joseph Hospital in Asaba. Sadly, efforts to revive him failed, and the actor passed on.
National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) Emeka Rollas confirmed the sad news late Wednesday, after initially debunking claims that the actor had died.
“It is so so sad that our joy was shortlived,” Rollas wrote on his Instagram page.
“My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail.
“God knows the best. We finally lost him,” he added.
A video circulating online captured the actor’s last moments, where he cautioned the boat driver about speed due to his responsibilities as an only child with a family to support back home.
This was the last video he personally shared on his Instagram page hours before tragedy struck.
In response to the tragic incident, AGN announced a “No Shoot Day” and suspended movie productions around riverine areas and boat riding indefinitely.
The association also issued a directive to refrain from working with the producer, Adanma Luke, associated with the ill-fated movie production that led to the actors’ deaths.
Rollas wrote in a statement:
“Following the tragic incident of a boat mishap that claimed the life of Junior Pope and three other crew members at waterside of River Niger Cable point Asaba on 10th of April, all films that involve riverine areas and boat riding is hereby suspended indefinitely.
“No Shoot on all locations nationwide on Thursday, 11th April 2024 and the film titled “The other side of Life” is suspended indefinitely.
“Also, no actor is allowed to work with Adanma Luke as a producer till further notice, while we keep searching for the bodies of the remaining persons.
“May their souls rest in peace,” he said.
Junior Pope and the other members of the crew were working on a movie titled “The Other Side of Life”, produced by Adamma Luke.
