investigative report on the cause of Junior Pope’s death has surfaced online

The agency, under the direction of Cpt. Alex Baden, released a report on Friday, May 24, stating that they learned about the accident through social media rather than formal notification. On April 12, 2024, investigators from the NSIB’s Enugu Regional Office were dispatched to the accident scene. The inquiry revealed that the boat’s driver was uncertified.

The wooden fishing canoe, occupied by a single person, was struck by a speeding boat, causing it to capsize and throwing everyone inside into the Anam River. The study found that only one person on the boat had a life jacket, contradicting the movie producer’s claims that they were provided with life jackets.

The NSIB further stated that the boat’s operator did not supply the life jacket to the lone passenger who was wearing it. Additionally, there was no passenger manifest, no qualified divers nearby for rescue, and the rescue attempt was not completed in a timely manner.

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) was advised to ensure that all boats engaged in commercial operations on the national inland waterways are registered. The bureau emphasized the need for sufficient safety precautions to be implemented and upheld in our inland waterways.