Junior Pope’s death: Movie producer says actor refused dirty life jacket
Movie producer, Adanma Luke has spoken out about the boat mishap that happened while filming a new film in Delta State.
The accident led to the death of famous actor Junior Pope along with four others.
Speaking on the incident for the first time since it happened, Mrs. Luke blamed the death of Junior Pope’s to his failure to wear a life jacket while on the boat ride.
“On that shooting day, I saw my director. I saw Emeka. They were outside. My director was wearing a life jacket. Emeka, the D.O.P. was in a life jacket. There was still one other jacket which I don’t know who took it.
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“My production manager said they saw one life jacket hanging so, they took it. He said they sent one to Junior Pope but he said it was dirty and didn’t take it. Those people with life jackets survived (the boat accident),” Adanma said in a video clip uploaded on her Instagram page on Saturday.
“They also told me that when they were in the water trying to survive, Junior Pope was asking if everybody was okay. They even threw a gallon to him to use and hold himself up. But all of a sudden, they didn’t see him again.
“It was when they came out that they noticed, he was no longer there. They said divers came and rescued some of them while other divers were still there trying to save others,” she added.
However, Adanma did not clearly state if the four other who died were also not in life jackets.
Junior Pope and four other actors drowned after their boat capsised in Anam River in Anambra State on Wednesday, April 10 while returning from the location of a movie shoot.
Actors Guild of Nigeria takes action
Following Junior Pope’s death, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) took an industry-affecting decisions in response to the tragic deaths of actor John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope.
Under his leadership as National President, Emeka Rollas, announced a number of measures;
- Suspension of Riverine Film Shoots: All films involving riverine areas and boat riding are suspended indefinitely. This decision aims to prioritize safety and prevent similar mishaps in the future.
- Nationwide Shoot Suspension: There will be no filming activities at any location across the country on Thursday, April 11, 2024. This pause is a mark of respect and mourning for the lives lost.
- Indefinite Suspension of “Another Side of Life” Film: The production of “Another Side of Life” is halted until further notice as part of the precautionary measures taken by the guild.
- Restriction on Working with Adamma Luke: Actors are prohibited from working with Adamma Luke as a producer until further directives are issued. This step is part of the ongoing investigation and safety considerations.
