By Adadareporters
The Anambra State Police Command, Sunday, stated that the remains of the late Nollywood star, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly called Junior Pope, were not among those buried by the bank of the Anam River.
The spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Ikenga Tochukwu, clarified that only three of the deceased families agreed that the victims be buried by the riverside.
He said after the burial of the three, one of the families came back to exhume the remains of their daughter for a proper burial in her state. Ikenga added that the corpse of Junior Pope was deposited at a morgue.
Quoting him, “The command, on an inquiry about the unconfirmed information that the recovered bodies including Junior Pope were buried by the Riverside where the boat accident happened, discovered that three of the deceased families accepted the victims should be buried beside the river.
“But later, the family of one of the victims decided to exhume the body to be given a proper burial in her state while the other two were still buried there.
“Also, Junoir Pope and one other are still in the morgue and await the deceased families’ funeral arrangements.”
The police spokesman also stated that the command was still investigating the unfortunate incident.
He said, “The producer of the movie and the two boat drivers’ statements have been obtained, and other necessary actions/moves already emplaced by the operatives as directed by the Commissioner of Police to determine the criminal liability of any person, if any, in the mishap.”
Recall that Junior Pope and four other crew members of a speed boat died after the boat capsized on April 10, 2024. The incident happened when they were returning to Asaba from Anambra after shooting a movie. There were media reports that the deceased were buried by the bank of the river according to the tradition of the natives of the riverine area.
Meanwhile, the family of the late Nollywood actor, John Paul Obumneme Odonwodo, of Ukehe in Igbo-Etiti LGA of Enugu State, has regretted the death of their son, describing it as ‘wholly avoidable’.
Dr Divine Odonwodo said the funeral arrangements would be announced soon, and appealed to the public to give the family some privacy.
According to him, “We regret to announce the sudden death of our son, brother, husband, friend and very well loved Nollywood movie star, John Paul Obumneme Odonwodo (Junior Pope). This wholly avoidable tragedy took place on the 10th of April, 2024 in Asaba, Delta State.
“Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family. While the authorities investigate the circumstances leading to this unfortunate event, the family asks for privacy as we grieve and mourn this irreparable loss.
“May his beautiful soul and the souls of all the victims of the boat accident rest in peace. Amen.”
