A preliminary report by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has revealed how Johnpaul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope and four other Nollywood personalities died last month.
Junior Pope died alongside four others on 10 April 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 occurrences 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.
“Only one passenger on the outboard engine fibre boat was wearing a life jacket. The only passenger wearing a life jacket came with it and was not provided by the operator.
“The passenger wearing the life jacket was one of the survivors.
“The boat was fitted with an outboard engine. There was no manifest of passengers and persons onboard the boat and rescue operation was not timely and there were no trained divers around to assist in the operation”.
The Bureau recommended that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) should ensure that all boats involved in commercial activities (goods and passengers) within the national inland waterways are registered and ensure adequate safety measures are implemented and enforced in all the inland waterways.
It further stated that there was a need for increased sensitization and enlightenment of boat operators on safe operations and security along the Anam River and other inland waterways.
It added that they should provide training to local fishermen and boat association members as rescue divers to provide prompt rescue in the event of an occurrence in the inland waterways.
Other reports released by the bureau are: “Preliminary Report on Serious Incident Involving an MD-82 Aircraft Operated by Dana Airlines Limited Registered 5N-BKI, Which Occurred on Runway 18l Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on 23 April 2024.
“Final report on a serious incident involving Embraer EMB-145LR registered 5N-BVD operated by Air Peace Limited which occurred at Kaduna Airport, Kaduna on 14 January 2021.
“Final report On the incident involving a ground collision between a Lavatory Service Truck with fleet number 9/5 operated by Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc (SAHCO) and a parked Boeing 737-300 aircraft registered 5N-DAB operated by Max Air Limited which occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on 21 November, 2021”.
