Our correspondent

3 still missing in Anambra boat mishap as NIWA rescues 7, recovers Junior Pope's corpse



The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)has recovered the corpse of Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope( JP) and one other body.

The agency said seven persons were rescued while three others in the ill-fated boat were still missing.

The Nollywood actors were said to be returning to Onitsha after shooting a movie at Anam in Anambra West local government area of Anambra State when the mishap occured.

NIWA Area Manager in Onitsha, Mr Suleiman Nicholas said that contrary to the claims that the incident happened in Anam, Anambra West, it actually happened at the Akpaka, a high brow suburb of Onitsha and Nsugbe in Anambra East local government area.

He said there were 12 persons that boarded the ill-fated boat, which was almost getting to its destination when it capsized.

He said that out of the three missing persons, two were female, while one was male, adding that his men were already at the scene of the incident at Akpaka area, conducting rescue and recovery activities, with the men of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and Marine Police.

Asked if the popular Nollywood actor, John Paul Odobwido, aka Junior Pope was one of the dead victims, Nicholas said: “My people said Junior Pope was one of the dead".

He added: “Whatever information you get now as the cause of the incident may not be accurate as we are waiting the report from my men who are at the scene of the incident.

"My men are on the water now to recover the remaining three missing victims”