Editor’s note: This story has been corrected. For the most current information
Nigerian actor, Junior Pope is dead.
The 39-year-old actor and three of his colleagues were coming back from a movie location in a boat when they fell into Anam River in Anambra state.
The boat capsized and he, alongside two others yet to be identified actors, drowned. His body was recovered and rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
Fortunately, the actor was said to be alive after the mortuary attendant confirmed that there life is still in his body.
He was said to be battling with his life.
Emeka Rollas, the President of Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, later confirmed that Pope was alive and recovering in a hospital.
In an Instagram post, Rollas said the actor was alive and was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
He wrote, “What God cannot do does not exist. Junior Pope is alive.
“He is taking treatment in the hospital,” he added.
The actor joined Nollywood in 2006, when he started attending auditions and acting as a minor character in movies. He usually played the role of a bodyguard, palace attendant, and servant in movies.
Hours ago, the actor shared a video of himself taken yesterday in a boat and praying frantically to arrive at his destination safely.
The accident unfortunately happened on his way back from the location today April 10th.
In 2007, Pope rose to fame after acting in the blockbuster movie “Secret Adventures” a movie directed by Tchidi Chikere. He has acted in more than 150 Nollywood movies including “Secret Adventures”, “Mad sex”, “Bitter Generation”, “Vengeance of Bullet”, “The Cat”, “The Generals”, “Wrong Initiation” among others.
In 2010, he won the award for Nollywood Most Promising Actor in Nigeria at the Entertainment Factory Awards. He is best known for playing roles of a criminal, villain, armed robber, militant and hitman in movies.
Other awards he has won include Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards and Best Actor of the Year at the Africa Movie Academy Awards among others.
The actor is survived by his wife and three children. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.
