[ad_1]
Film producer, Adanma Luke has broken her silence on the boat accident that occurred during the filming of her new film in Delta State.
The accident claimed the lives of popular Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo and four others.
Mrs Luke, in her first public comment on the incident, blamed Junior Pope’s death on his refusal to wear a life jacket during the boat trip.
“That day of filming I saw my director. I saw Emeka. They were outside. My director was wearing a life jacket. Emeka, the cinematographer was wearing a life jacket. There was still another jacket that I don’t know who took,” he said in a video uploaded to his Instagram account on Saturday.
Giving more details, the filmmaker said, “My production manager said they saw a life jacket hanging and took it away. He said they sent one to Junior Pope but he said he was dirty and wouldn’t accept it. “Those people in life jackets survived (the boat accident).”
“I was also told that when they were in the water trying to survive, Junior Pope would ask if everyone was okay. They even threw a gallon for him to use and hold on to. But suddenly they didn’t see him again.”
However, Ms Luke did not confirm whether the other four crew members who died in the boat accident were wearing life jackets or not.
This comes after Junior Pope and four other actors drowned after their boat capsized in the Anam River in Anambra State on Wednesday while returning from a movie shooting location.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) had previously said 12 people were on the ill-fated boat.
NIWA added that of the 12, seven were successfully rescued, two found dead, including Mr Odonwodo, while three others (two women and one man) were declared missing.
Police in Anambra State on Friday said they had recovered the bodies of the three missing Nollywood stars.
The movements of the AGN
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) on Thursday declared “No Filming Day” for all Nollywood filmmakers and indefinitely suspended film production in riverine areas.
This was announced this Thursday, in a statement, by Emeka Rollas, national president of the AGN, the suspension of the production of the film that caused the accident, ‘The Other Side of Life’, produced by Adamma Luke.
“Following the tragic incident of a boat accident that claimed the lives of Junior Pope and three other crew members on the bank of the Niger River Cable Point Asaba on April 10, all films involving riverside areas and boating are suspended indefinitely.”
“There will be no filming in all locations nationwide on Thursday, April 11, 2024 and the film titled ‘The Other Side of Life’ is on indefinite hold,” the statement said.
He also banned the actors from dealing with the film’s producer until further notice.
Police in Anambra state, southeastern Nigeria, have also launched an investigation to uncover any criminal responsibility in the cause of the death of John Pope and others.
READ ALSO:
[ad_2]