A preliminary report by the Nigerian Security Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed how the tragic boat accident that led to the death of Nollywood actor Junior Pope and four other crew members occurred in Anambra State.
The NSIB revealed this information during a press conference on Friday, which coincided with the agency’s release of four additional final and preliminary reports.
The office’s director, Alex Badeh, during a press conference, detailed how the accident occurred and highlighted several safety failures.
The boat, carrying 12 actors and crew members, capsized in the Anam River in Anambra State on April 10. Five passengers were lost.
However, the NSIB stated that it did not receive official notification, but learned of the accident through social media, which led to an investigation being launched on April 14, adding that its objective was to recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies.
Investigators from the NSIB regional office in Enugu were dispatched to the accident site on April 12.
‘Distracted driver’
The agency’s initial findings indicated that the boat’s driver lacked certification, that the fiberglass boat was not registered with the National Inland Waterways Authority and that the outboard-powered fiberglass boat was carrying 12 passengers and a driver.
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According to Punch, the director noted that only one person in the wooden fishing canoe contributed to distracting the driver.
He claimed that the high-speed boat collided with a slower-moving wooden fishing canoe, causing the boat to capsize and all passengers to be thrown into the river.
“The boat was going at high speed and the canoe crossing was moving much slower. Seeing the rapidly approaching boat, the sole occupant of the canoe jumped into the river and escaped.
“The boat collided with the canoe at high speed, causing the boat to capsize and all people on board to be thrown into the Anam River,” Badeh said.
The report revealed that although five passengers on the boat suffered fatal injuries, the driver and seven other passengers managed to survive the accident.
“Only one passenger on the fiber boat with an outboard motor was wearing a life jacket. The only passenger who was wearing a life jacket accompanied him and was not provided by the operator.
“The passenger wearing the life jacket was one of the survivors. The boat was equipped with an outboard motor. There was no manifest of passengers and people on board the ship. “The rescue operation was not timely and there were no trained divers to assist,” the report added.
As part of its safety recommendations, the office implored the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to prioritize the regulation and registration of all vessels engaged in commercial activities within the national inland waterways to avoid similar situations.
The office’s recommendations also emphasized the need to implement sufficient safety measures in these waterways.
Background
Pope tragically died while filming the movie “The Other Side of Life.”
Initially, there was a ray of hope when the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) reported signs of life. Unfortunately, hours later, the union confirmed Pope’s death, stating that attempts to revive him had been unsuccessful.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the 43-year-old actor was buried on May 17 at Uwala Abaka, Ukehe, Nsukka area of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.
His final rites began with a burial mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Ukehe Enugu State.