A report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on Friday revealed that the driver of the ill-fated boat that conveyed late Nollywood actor John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope and other crew members, was not certified.
Speaking in a press briefing, the NSIB Director General, Alex Badeh, disclosed that 12 passengers and one boat driver were onboard the boat when it crashed, adding that only one passenger was wearing a life jacket.
According to the NSIB director, the investigation revealed that the fibre boat was not registered with the National Inland Waterways Authority.
Giving details on the findings of their investigation, Badeh stated that the speedboat capsized, throwing all occupants into the Anam River.
He further noted that five passengers including Junior Pope lost their lives, while seven others were rescued alive.
The agency further stated that the boat was at high speed when it collided with an empty canoe whose driver had escaped upon seeing the speed with which the boat was coming towards it.
The director said, “There was only one person on the wooden fishing canoe. This rowdiness in the boat distracted the driver and he was not looking out as required. The boat was on high speed and the crossing canoe was moving at a much slower speed. The only occupant of the canoe, on sighting the fast-approaching boat jumped into the river and escaped; the boat collided with the canoe at a high speed which resulted in the boat capsizing and all persons onboard were flung into Anam River.
“Only one passenger on the outboard engine fibre boat was wearing a life jacket. The only passenger wearing a life jacket came with it and was not provided by the operator. The passenger wearing the life jacket was one of the survivors. The boat was fitted with an outboard engine. There was no manifest of passengers and persons onboard the boat. The rescue operation was not timely and there were no trained divers around to assist in the operation.”
News About Nigeria reported that Junior Pope died alongside four other crew members in the boat accident that happened at Anam river in Anambra state on the 10th of April, 2024, on their way back from Adanma Luke’s ‘Another Side Of Life,’ movie shoot.
