The Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, has been thrown into a mourning mood again following the death of another actor, Pope Odonwodo, also known as Junior Pope.
A filmmaker Samuel Olatunji shared the heartbreaking news that Junior Pope, along with three others, tragically lost their lives in a boating accident on Wednesday (today). The accident occurred when their boat capsized in the Anam River while they were on their way to a filming location.
Olatunji expressed his sadness on Instagram, offering condolences to the families of the deceased actors.
He mentioned that the bodies of the actors had been recovered from the river.
Junior Pope, survived by his wife and three children, was known for his roles in various Nollywood productions.
In a video posted on his Instagram page on the same day, Junior Pope was seen on the boat without a life jacket, urging the captain to slow down.
He emphasized the risks actors take to entertain their audience and pleaded with the captain, saying, “I have three children to raise.”
The identities of the other three actors involved in the accident have not been disclosed at this time.
In the caption, he wrote, “See me lamenting… The risk we take to entertain you; crossing river 9ja yesterday with no life jacket… Na wahoooooo… Who does that ??”
He has acted in Nollywood movies like, “Secret Adventures”, “Eye of the Eagle”, “Bitter Generation”, “Wrong Initiation,” and “Honey Money” among others.