The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) revealed how Johnpaul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope and four other Nollywood personalities died recently.
Junior Pope died alongside four others on April 10 when their boat capsized in Anam River in Anambra State en route Asaba Jetty.
The NSIB, which commenced investigation a few days after the accident, has revealed the preliminary report on the accident.
The Bureau revealed the circumstances that led to the accident and the death of some of the occupants of the boat.
The Director General of NSIB, Capt Alex Badeh Jnr., releasing reports of four air and marine accidents which occurred between 2021 and 2024 in Abuja on Friday, said the report would prevent future occurrence of similar accidents.
The reports released include two aviation incident final reports, one aviation incident preliminary report and one marine accident preliminary report.
Badeh, who stated that it was not the purpose of the investigations to apportion blame or liability, said the four reports released contained 20 safety recommendations which are addressed to relevant entities within the transportation system to prevent future reoccurrence of such accidents or serious incidents when fully implemented.
On how the boat accident which led to the death of Junior Pope and others occurred, the Director of Transport Investigation of the Bureau, Abdullahi Babanya stated: “On 10th April 2024, an outboard engine fibre boat conveying 12 Nollywood movie production crew and one boat driver departed Onono Jetty in Anambra West Local Government Area with destination, Asaba Jetty.
“The outboard engine fibre boat on high speed crashed into a crossing local fishing canoe. The speed boat capsized and all occupants were flung into the Anam River.
“Five passengers were fatally injured and 7 were rescued alive.
“The Nigerian Safety Investigation (NSIB) was not officially notified but got to know about the accident through social media.
“Investigators from the Enugu Regional office of NSIB were dispatched to the accident site on 12 April, 2024.”
On its findings, Babanya said: “The boat driver was not certified, the fibre boat was not registered with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), the outboard engine fibre boat was carrying 12 passengers and one boat driver and there was only one person on the wooden fishing canoe.
“This rowdiness in the boat distracted the driver and he was not looking out as required.
“The boat was on high speed and the crossing canoe was moving at a much slower speed. The only occupant of the canoe, on sighting the fast approaching boat jumped into the river and escaped.”
He continued: “The boat collided with the canoe at a high speed which resulted in the boat capsizing and all persons onboard were flung into Anam River.
“Five passengers on the boat were fatally injured while the remaining seven passengers and the driver survived the crash.
