Junior Pope
Sodiq Ojuroungbe
…Proper safety measures must be enforced on waterways, experts
The Nigerian movie industry and the country have been thrown into mourning following the death of four actors in a boating mishap in Anam, an axis of River Niger in Anambra State while returning from a movie location.
Nollywood star, Pope Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope was among the passengers onboard the speed boat that reportedly capsized in the rough waters.
Hours before the boat accident, Odonwodo shared a video on his Instagram account mouthing prayers and cautioning the boat rider to reduce his speed and ride gently.
He said, “I am the only son and have three sons. I have to be alive to raise and train them.”
It was gathered that none of the actors were wearing life jackets and the corpses of the three others are yet to be found.
The news of their deaths was shared on Wednesday, April 10, by filmmaker, Samuel Olatunji.
He said that the actor, along with three others, lost their lives when their boat capsized.
“Four actors, including Jnr Pope, fell into Anam River on their way to a location, and their bodies have been recovered.
“What a sad day for Nollywood. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family,” Olatunji wrote on his Instagram page.
The absence of life jackets has been cited as a major contributing factor to the tragedy, sparking a nationwide conversation about safety regulations.
In the wake of the incident, fans and colleagues of the late actors have taken to social media to express their grief and call for better safety standards in the entertainment industry.
PUNCH Healthwise also observed that people took to social media to criticise prominent producer, Adamma Luke, for not providing safety kits for the actor and others that tragically lost their lives.
A fan and Facebook user, Rihanna Maya, who described the incident as heartbreaking in her latest post, said that the incident could have been averted if safety cautions had been put in place.
She stated, “This could have been prevented if they had done this on a more professional platform; Not using a real river, like in Titanic. As big as the movie was, they didn’t shoot it in a real sea or ocean, everything was done in a pool.
“Second of all, they could have had medical personnel, ambulance, divers and some other SOS teams along with them in the shooting location. It is so sad though, how the director didn’t think of other safety rights before embracing such a journey, or is it that she doesn’t want to spend money as low as not affording a common life jacket?”
Another X user, Frank Nweke said, “The events leading up to these deaths are simply unacceptable and completely avoidable.
“While we mourn with their family, friends, and colleagues, we must also address the lawlessness, nonchalance, and disregard for life by all the parties involved.
“The absence of safety measures while travelling by boat, the lack of first aid knowledge by the responders at the scene of the accident, the preposterous report that Junior Pope was taken to ritualists first when found to still be alive, and the vulturine behaviour of content creators to capture the entire ordeal are all indicators of the complexities of the Nigerian problem.
“We can only pray that this incident is jarring enough to effect the necessary changes in our approach to the regulation of public service, emergency response, and personal responsibility during emergencies.”
Reacting to the development, the Actors Guild of Nigeria swiftly took steps against Luke, suspending films featuring riverine locations indefinitely.
The AGN also made several strong moves, including putting a moratorium on films set in rivers.
Also, movie shoots nationwide have been suspended on Thursday, April 11.
Speaking on the development, A marine safety expert, Dr Taiwo Lawal noted that preventable tragedies like the Nollywood boat accident can be avoided if proper safety measures are taken, including the use of life jackets.
He explained that in cases of capsizing, life jackets can provide buoyancy and stability, which increases the chance of survival in rough waters.
According to him, tragedies like this highlight the importance of prioritising safety over entertainment and ensuring that all actors are equipped with the necessary safety gear when filming in dangerous environments.
Meanwhile, this incident is not an isolated case as numerous incidents of boat mishaps across the country have resulted in massive loss of lives, bringing to question safety agencies’ commitment towards safety, especially on the nation’s waterways.
In January 2024, at least five passengers were killed when a boat capsized in Anambra State.
Also in January 2024, about 20 persons, including children were reportedly killed in a boat accident that occurred along the Andoni-Bonny coastal waters in Rivers State.
Similarly, three persons drowned after a boat ferrying 14 passengers capsized along the Ibeshe-Ikorodu channel of Lagos State in February 2024.
Meanwhile, the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration report revealed that over 200 people lost their lives as a result of boat accidents in seven states in 2023.
The institute said findings by CIOTA showed that the accidents occurred in Kwara, Calabar, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi and Ondo states.
The President of CIOTA, Segun Obayendo called for a national overview of the transport sector, stressing that it would define the structure, standard operating procedure, best practices, and compliance system in the transportation industry.
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