Nigerian actor Junior Pope Odonwodo, known professionally as Jnr Pope, has tragically passed away. The news of his death was confirmed on Wednesday by the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas.
Jnr Pope reportedly died during a boat trip for a film production on Wednesday afternoon. The accident occurred on the River Niger in Anambra State when the boat he was in collided with another and capsized.
Emeka Rollas confirmed that Jnr Pope’s remains have been recovered and taken to the morgue. While the remains of one crew member have also been retrieved, the search continues for the remaining three crew members who were also on the boat.
Just a day before the accident, Jnr Pope had posted a video on social media showing himself on a speedboat without a life jacket. The video caption read: “See me lamenting the risk we take to entertain you, crossing river 9ja yesterday with no life jacket…who does that?“
The news of Jnr Pope’s death has sent shockwaves through the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood. Many actors have already begun sharing their condolences on social media, paying tribute to the late actor.