Tragic news on Wednesday night enveloped Nollywood in a shroud of grief as the beloved actor, Pope Odonwodo, fondly known as Junior Pope, met his untimely demise in a devastating boat accident.
The actor and three unidentified others allegedly died when the boat carrying them from a movie location capsized.
The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas, has finally confirmed the deaths of Nollywood actor Pope and crew members, reports Persecondnews.
The Guild has also declared Thursday “No Shoot Day” for all Nollywood filmmakers.
This is to honour Pope, who, along with three crew members, died in a boat mishap on the Anam River in Anambra on Wednesday.
Rollas, who first denied that Pope was dead, took to his Instagram page on Thursday to correct his earlier information: “It is so, so sad that our joy was shortlived.
“The first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him, but to no avail.
“God knows the best. We finally lost him.”
Also, filmmaker Samuel Olatunji confirmed the heartbreaking news on April 10, sending the industry into deep sorrow.
According to Per Second News, initial reports sparked a glimmer of hope when a video surfaced, depicting jubilant scenes at the mortuary and hinting at a “miraculous recovery.”
However, subsequent confirmations swiftly extinguished this flicker of optimism by solidifying the grim reality of his passing and dispelling any lingering doubts.
A haunting video that Junior Pope shared on his Instagram poignantly captured his final moments, showing him pleading with the boat’s captain to proceed with caution.
With palpable urgency, he implored for a slower pace, mindful of the precious lives he had waiting at home.
The Nollywood actor told his followers to see how actors risk their lives to entertain them.
He began to plead with the captain to go slowly as he shouted, “I have three children to raise.”
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 ??”
Throughout his illustrious career, Junior Pope graced the screens with his remarkable talent, leaving an indelible mark on Nollywood. We will forever cherish his contributions to the industry, from “Secret Adventures” to “Honey Money.”
As tributes pour in from fellow luminaries across Nollywood and beyond, Junior Pope’s legacy as a versatile actor and cherished colleague will endure, even as the industry mourns the loss of one of its brightest stars.
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