Mr. Steve Eboh, the Special Assistant to the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) on Military Relations, has offered a detailed account of the tragic boat accident that resulted in the loss of lives, including Nollywood actor Jnr. Pope, and four others at Anam River in Anambra State.
All Nigeria Latest News reports that the veteran actor also discussed the measures taken to manage the situation effectively.
The Anambra State Police Command announced yesterday that they have successfully recovered the bodies of the remaining three victims of the tragic boat accident. Two bodies were found on Thursday, while the third was washed ashore by the tide yesterday morning.
The aide to the AGN President was part of the production Associates of the ill-fated movie, ‘Another Side of Life” being produced by Adanma Luke.
The boat accident has sent shockwaves throughout the Nigerian movie industry. Various narratives continue to circulate regarding the incident.
Eboh, popularly known as Ajebo, has chosen to provide insight into the incident.
He said: “I was part of the production Associates of the movie, ‘Another Side of Life.’ On that day, I was supposed to be on that set. But somehow, I got to the location very early when the cast and crew were not yet there. I went back home, hoping that they would call me when they arrived. But the next thing I heard was what happened and the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Chief Emeka Rollas called me, and instructed me to move to Asaba to ascertain the situation. The incident didn’t happen in Asaba, rather it happened in Anambra State. But the takeoff point was Asaba.”
The veteran Nollywood figure pointed fingers at actor TC Okafor for the tragedy. Okafor’s live session interview, detailing the events leading to the incident, gained widespread attention on social media on Thursday.
He stated that while the victims were on board, Okafor kept standing and was pouring libation on the water, and at the same time ringing his bell. In the process, he blocked the view of the person steering the boat in such a way that he couldn’t see the incoming canoe, thereby leading to a collision.
Eboh added, “The producer of the film, Adanma Luke was supposed to be in the boat. But somehow, she forgot something and had to rush back to the hotel to pick it up. That was how she missed the boat. But when the accident happened, we were asked to perform some rituals by the riverside before we recovered Jnr Pope’s body alongside the other victim. They were already dead when they were bought out of the water.
“I was at the riverside when they brought their bodies out of the water. At that point, I invited the police to take their corpses to the mortuary, but the supreme argument prevailed that we should take them to the hospital first for the doctors to confirm they were dead. We went to the first hospital and they were confirmed dead. At the mortuary, the attendant insisted that we must obtain certain clearance before he would do anything.
“However, when our people decided to perform some rituals by the tradition of the Anam people before taking the bodies away, the man that presided over the rituals told our people that their spirits were back in them and that we should rush them to the hospital to revive them. That was when it started trending that Jnr Pope was alive and people were rejoicing.
“Unfortunately, the hospital still confirmed them dead. We decided to take them to the third hospital, and it was the same story. At that point, there was nothing we could do again than to deposit their corpses in the morgue. As of yesterday, we recovered two bodies and they were buried the same day by the riverside. Their families were there. The Anambra State Police marine recovered the last body yesterday morning.
“Those who were wearing life jackets included the director of the movie, the cameraman and the production manager. If the star actors in that boat had wanted to wear life jackets, they would have been given the jackets. But in a situation where everybody wanted content, to make videos and do a lot of expeditions on the water, it’s unfortunate, but then there’s nothing we can do about it. First and foremost, are we to blame the producer for giving out the job or the carelessness of some of the drivers of the boat who couldn’t provide what they were supposed to do for their passengers? At the moment, everyone in Nollywood is worried, I am worried. That’s the situation.
“The way forward is that the ones to be buried here have been buried and the other ones are still in the mortuary. The producer is doing everything possible to ensure that everybody is satisfied.
“Adanma Luke is not feeling fine. She’s been down since yesterday, she’s completely heartbroken. If not because of God, I wouldn’t be talking to you now because I was supposed to be in that boat”.