The death of actor Junior Pope has drawn attention to several incidents of boat mishaps in Anambra area of River Niger, widely attributed to the presence of what people describe as ‘water spirits’.
In January 2024, five persons died in the same Anambra area of River Niger after their boat capsized.
Police spokesman in Anambra, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the boat mishap.
He told newsmen that police operatives were able to rescue 30 passengers from the accident scene.
“We were able to rescue more than 30 of the passengers alive and recovered the five lifeless bodies in the depth of the river and the capsized boat.
“Preliminary information revealed that the boat was travelling from Kogi and was conveying goods and passengers before the unfortunate incident,” the police said.
Two months after the tragic incident, Junior Pope died yesterday during a boat trip for a film production in the same Anambra area of River Niger.
Following the actor’s death, a publication by Sahara Reporters, titled, “The Mermaid of River Niger,” resurfaced online.
The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, confirmed to Channels Television that the remains of actor Junior Pope have been deposited at the morgue.
He also confirmed that the remains of a crew member were recovered from the River Niger while the bodies of three other crew members were yet to be recovered as they were five in the boat which capsized after colliding with another boat.
Less than 24 hours ago, the actor put up a video of himself in a speed boat with no life jacket on with the caption: “See me lamenting the risk we take to entertain you, crossing river 9ja yesterday with no life jacket…who does that?”.
Nollywood actors have started putting up condolence messages on their social media pages to honour the late actor.
Rollas took to his instagram page on Thursday to disclose the sad development as he wrote, “It is so so sad that our joy was shortlived.
“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 said. CONTINUE READING