Anambra boat mishap: NIWA recovers corpse of Nollywood actor, Jnr Pope, one other

Rescues 7 persons; 3 still missing
By Our Correspondent
THE National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has recovered the corpse of the Nollywood actor,
John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope and one other body, and rescued seven persons. Three other people in the ill-fated boat are still missing.
The Nollywood actors were said to be returning to Onitsha after shooting a movie at Anam in Anambra West local government area of Anambra State.
NIWA Area Manager in Onitsha, Mr Suleiman Nicholas said that contrary to the claim that the incident happened in Anam, Anambra West, it actually happened at the Akpaka, a high brow suburb of Onitsha and Nsugbe in Anambra East local government area.
According to Nicholas, there were twelve persons that boarded the ill fated boat, which was almost getting to its destination when it capsized.
He said that out of the three missing persons, two are female, while one is male, adding that his men were already at the scene of the incident at Akpaka area, conducting rescue and recovery activities, with the men of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and Marine Police.
Asked if the popular Nollywood actor, John Paul Odobwido, aka Junior Pope was one of the dead victims, Nicholas said: “My people said Junior Pope was one of the dead”.
He added: “Whatever information you get now as the cause of the incident may not be accurate as we are waiting the report from my men who are at the scene of the incident.
“My men are on the water now to recover the remaining three missing victims”