Junior Pope’s Death: Police Give Fresh Update on Burial of Actor, Other Victims

• The police have provided an update regarding the boat tragedy that happened recently in Anam River, Anambra state
• The police authorities in Anambra disclosed that actor Junior Pope's body was not buried by the riverside but deposited at the morgue
• The Force spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that three victims had been buried by the riverside, while the remaining two had not been buried

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Anambra state, Awka - The Anambra state police command said the body of the late actor, Pope Obumneme Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope, was not buried by the riverside and, therefore, not “exhumed.”

The command's spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, made this disclosure during an interview with The Punch on Sunday, April 14. According to Ikenga, the corpse was deposited at the morgue.

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Why three victims were buried by the riverside

Ikenga also noted that three of the deceased were buried by the riverside because their families accepted that they should be buried there, but actor Junior Pope and one other were still in the morgue.

He said:

“Junior Pope and one other are still in the morgue and awaiting the deceased family’s funeral arrangements, Please let’s be guided."

How did Junior Pope die?

It was reported that Junior Pope and other members of a movie set drowned after their boat capsized in Anam River, Anambra state, on Wednesday, April 10, while returning from a shoot.

The police command said two boat operators conveying the late actor had been arrested. It also said the producer of the movie, Adanma Luke, voluntarily turned herself in to the police.

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Danger of not burying Junior Pope by riverbank

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported earlier that Olúwo Jogbodo Orunmila, a Babalawo, explained the danger of not burying anyone who died in the river by the riverside to the communities around the river.

The traditionalist, in an exclusive interview with Legit.ng, explained that the elders believed anyone who died in the river had been used as a sacrifice, and not burying such a person at the riverside could lead to multiple deaths.

Speaking on the traditional implication, Babalawo said:

"A person who died inside a river must be buried by the river bank. They are called Olu wo (o lu wo), which means literally the one who enters spiritually. It means someone who enters a realm that he or she was not meant to."

Source: Legit.ng