News Update: Popular Nollywood Actor Junior Pope, 4 Others Confirmed Dead After Boat Accident

The Nollywood movie industry has once again been thrown into a state of mourning following the demise of one of its famous actors, Pope Obumneme Odonwodo.

Better known as Junior Pope, the actor died aged 39 together with  four of his colleagues while returning from a movie location on Wednesday [April 10] afternoon.

According to reports, the boat in which they were travelling in capsized in River Niger in Asaba, Delta State leading to their death.

The video below was Junior Pope’s last message on Instagram, two hours before his death.

He left behind a wife and three children.

The Delta State Chairman of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Emma Onyemeziem has since confirmed his death.

Their bodies have since been recovered. Pope’s last Instagram post was on Monday where he shared a video of himself in a boat and praying frantically to arrive at his destination safely.

RIP Junior Pope

He became famous in 2007, after his role in “Secret Adventures” which was directed by Tchidi Chikere.

He’s featured in over 100 Nollywood movies such as: “Secret Adventures”, “Vengeance of Bullet”, “The Cat”, “Mad sex”, “Bitter Generation”, “The Generals”, “Wrong Initiation” among others.

He won his first award in 2010 as the Most Promising Nollywood Actor from Entertainment Factory Awards.

Meanwhile, an Instagram user has claimed that Pope was reportedly “rejected” by the mortuary attendant who said “he was still alive” and refused family members to deposit his body at the mortuary.

He has since been taken to a water shrine for rituals.

The actor’s death has also been confirmed by Emeka Rollas Ejezie, National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, in an Instagram post.

A few hours after the initial reports of Pope’s passing, Emeka Rollas Ejezie wrote on Instagram that the actor is “alive and taking treatment in the hospital.”

VIDEO: Nollywood Actor Junior Pope Is Not Dead – Emeka Rollas Confirms

Nollywood deaths this year

The death of Junior Pope is the latest in a string of tragedies that have hit Nollywood this year.

Last month, ace actors, such as Mr. Ibu, Sisi Quadri and Amaechi Muonagor passed on. In January it was Deji Aderemi, popularly known as Olofa Ina. In February it was Ethel Ekpe. She is well known for playing the role of ‘Segi’ on the Nigerian Television Authority sitcom, ‘Basi and Company’.

Just recently, Adejumoke Aderounmu of Jenifa’s Diary also passed on at age 40.

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