Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, expressed condolences to the families of actor Pope Odonwodo, known as Junior Pope, and four others who tragically lost their lives in a boat mishap on the River Niger. The incident occurred while they were returning from the set of a movie titled “The Other Side of Life,” produced by Adanma Luke.
In a statement released by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, Governor Soludo lamented the loss of talented young Nigerians and emphasized the importance of adhering to safety measures in water transportation. He urged Nollywood practitioners to prioritize safety protocols during riverside engagements and pledged support for the creative entertainment industry’s development.
Soludo highlighted ongoing efforts by the Anambra State Government to enhance tourism and economic activities, including the construction of the ‘Solution Fun City’ in Awka and modernizing the state’s water transportation system.
Meanwhile, Adanma Luke, the movie’s producer, broke her silence on the incident, revealing details of the tragedy in a series of videos on her Instagram page. She recounted how she narrowly escaped being on the ill-fated boat and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of her colleagues, whom she considered family.
Luke recounted attempts to recover the bodies from the river and transport them to their families for burial. She tearfully revealed that the late Junior Pope had declined a life jacket due to its condition, despite efforts to ensure safety.
The Anambra Police Command announced the arrest of the boat operators involved in the accident. State police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed that Adanma Luke had cooperated with authorities, and further investigations would include questioning other cast and crew members.
Ikenga assured the public that thorough investigations would be conducted, emphasizing that no detail would be overlooked in determining the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.