AGN Declares 'No Shoot Day' Following Tragic Death of Nollywood Actor Junior Pope in Boat Accident

Following the devastating loss of Nigeria actor Junior Pope and three other crew members in a boat accident on the Anam River in Anambra State, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has announced Thursday as a 'No Shoot Day' for all Nollywood filmmakers.

Emeka Rollas, National President of AGN, conveyed the decision in a statement on Thursday, citing the incident that occurred during the filming of 'The Other Side of Life' produced by Adamma Luke.

"All films involving riverine areas and boat riding are hereby suspended indefinitely," the release stated. 

The late actor and his colleagues were returning from a movie location when the accident occurred, plunging them into the Anam River on Wednesday.

Death of Pope 
Mr Rollas confirmed Junior Pope’s death on Thursday after initially claiming on Wednesday that he survived the accident.

He said it was initially believed Junior Pope survived the accident when slight movements of his fingers were noticed on Wednesday.

He added: “My first post was out of excitement when we noticed his tingling fingers. Two notable hospitals tried their best to revive him but to no avail.
“God knows the best. We finally lost him. 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Junior Pope, in 2006, joined the Nollywood industry and started attending movie auditions and acting as a minor character in movies.

The tragic loss of Junior Pope, a prominent figure in the Nollywood industry since 2006, has deeply affected the film community. His contributions as a versatile actor, often portraying roles such as bodyguards, palace attendants, and servants, will be remembered affectionately.