The Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has said that six actors and one actress have been recovered from the boat mishap that occurred on River Niger on Wednesday involving Nollywood actors and crew members who were returning from a film location.
The command in a statement issued by the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said that two other victims of the incident rescued were unconscious and were handed over to the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria for conveyance to the hospital, adding that three others were still missing.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Aderemi Adeoye, extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the Nollywood actors and crew members who lost their lives as a result of the boat accident.
Recall that one of the two boats that conveyed the actors including a Nollywood star, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope was involved in an accident. The actors and other crew members were returning from a film location in Anambra West Local Government Area to Asaba.
The police commissioner said that on being notified of the capsize, the Anambra Command Marine Police deployed for rescue operations and successfully rescued six actors and one actress from the water.
Ikenga stated that “Two others who were unconscious were also pulled out with the aid of fishermen and conveyed to the Delta State Command Marine Police Jetty where other members of the crew who travelled in the first boat were waiting and handed over to the President of the Actors Guild for conveyance to the hospital while the rescue team went back in search of three others who are still missing as at the time of this release.
“Although the accident happened within the jurisdiction of the Anambra State Command, issues relating to release of bodies of the accident victims for a decent burial are to be handled by the Delta State Police Command.
“The Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, commiserates with family, friends and fans of the actors who died as a result of the boat mishap. He prayed the Almighty God to grant their souls a sweet repose.
“Preliminary enquiry has given insight into the cause of the accident. Exhaustive investigation has been ordered by the Commissioner of Police with a view to determining criminal liability of any person, if any, in the mishap.”
