Responding to the untimely passing of Junior Pope, Nollywood actor and producer Ini Edo shared her thoughts on the tragic event.
Junior Pope, whose real name was Pope Obumneme Odonwodo, lost his life in a boating accident along with three other actors while crossing the River Niger for a film shoot.
After this incident, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has prohibited actors from collaborating with Adanma Luke, the producer responsible for the ill-fated movie shoot.
In an emotional Instagram post, Ini Edo expressed, “There was no necessity for Junior Pope to sacrifice his life for Nollywood to realize the urgent requirement of a comprehensive regulatory framework that could ensure the safety of all involved in a production.”
She continued, “Yes, everyone seems to be a producer nowadays and all share some form of negligence, which needs to be addressed. This tragic loss shouldn’t be in vain, sparking a crucial need for a systemic revamp with practical protocols and guidelines to cater for all in times of crisis… It is always bewildering when we lose the good ones early.”
Ini concluded her post with, “Rest in peace, brother… This loss cuts deep.”