“It Was Not Boat”: What killed Nollywood actor Junior Pope revealed

A year after the tragic boat mishap that claimed the lives of Nollywood actor Junior Pope and four others, new details have surfaced about what really went wrong that day, as reported by Legit.

The National Inland Waterways Authority has released its findings about the boat mishap. Junior Pope, who was on his way back from a movie shoot titled Another Side of Life, died in the incident in April 2024.

The boat reportedly capsized near Cable Point at the River Niger in Asaba, Delta State.

Legit.ng recalled that the late actor’s son recently graduated, and the widow penned a special tribute to him on the occasion.

“It was not the boat” – NIWA clears the air

Speaking at a multi-modal transportation forum in Abuja, NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, said the accident was not caused by a mechanical fault, rough weather, or obstacles in the water. Instead, he placed the blame on human negligence, reports Daily Post.

The news of his death shocked Nollywood fans and left many grieving. Now, the idea that it could have been avoided if safety precautions had been followed has left many both sad and frustrated.

According to Oyebamiji, some of the passengers on the boat, including those who sadly didn’t make it, refused to wear life jackets that were made available before the journey.

Oyebamiji stated: “It was not mechanical failure, not impediments in the water or weather challenges. But purely a flagrant disregard for rules and regulations guiding movement on the inland waterways.”

Avoidable loss?

The revelation has reignited public conversation about safety on Nigeria’s inland waterways—and why so many tragedies appear to repeat themselves. NIWA’s MD used the opportunity to urge Nigerians to take water safety more seriously and to always comply with laid-down guidelines.

He emphasised that boat operators and passengers must support NIWA’s efforts to ensure safe travel across the country’s rivers and waterways.

Junior Pope: Boat mishap survivor speaks one year after

A survivor of the ill-fated boat has alleged that the true circumstances surrounding the incident have not been disclosed. In a video shared on Instagram, Abraham Gift Johnson, who claimed to have been on board, revealed that he had been too traumatised to speak out about the incident until now.