The Police in Anambra State have commenced investigation into the boat accident that claimed the lives of actors on the River Niger on Wednesday afternoon.

Spokesperson for the command, Tochukwu Ikenga, who conveyed the condolences of the Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye to the families of those who lost their lives, expressed deep regrets over the incident.

He added that the command did their best to ensure the rescue of actors when the incident was brought to their knowledge.

Ikenga stated that the boat was one of two that conveyed the crew to a film location in Anambra West Local Council of the state and was returning to Asaba, where it took off from when the accident happened.

“Once being notified of the capsize, Anambra Command Marine Police deployed for rescue operations and successfully rescued six actors and one actress from the water.

“Two others who were unconscious were also pulled out with the aid of fishermen and conveyed to the Delta State Command Marine Police Jetty where other members of the crew who traveled in the first boat, were waiting and handed over to the President of the Actors Guild for conveyance to the hospital, while the rescue team went back in search of three others who are still missing as at the time of this release,” he said.

He added that although the accident happened within the jurisdiction of Anambra State Command, issues relating to release of bodies of the accident victims for a decent burial are to be handled by Delta State Police Command.

Ikenga said preliminary enquiry has given insight into the cause of the accident, adding that exhaustive investigation has been ordered by the Commissioner of Police with a view to determining criminal liability of any person, if any, in the mishap.

One of the victims, Obumneme Odonwodo, popularly called Junior Pope, started his acting career in 2006 and has starred in more than 150 Nollywood movies, including Bachelor Eve, Vengeance of Bullet, Bitter Generation, The Generals, Wrong Initiation, The Cat, Nkwocha, Secret Adventure, among others.

He tied the knot with his wife, Jennifer Awele in 2014 and their marriage is blessed with three children.

Meanwhile, seven persons have reportedly been rescued by divers and rescuers deployed by the Nigeria Inland Waterways Agency (NIWA).

Investigation showed that 12 person’s were on board the speed boat on their way from a location to shoot a film titled, “Another Side of Life.”

When The Guardian visited the scene yesterday enroute a wake keep at Anam, frantic search and recovery operations were still ongoing by NIWA officials, with the men of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and Marine Police.

This came as the people of the Anam community were in tango with the family members of the departed over whether the actor and the others would be buried beside the river as tradition demands to appease the river goddess.

A source blamed a co-actor for the cause of the tragedy, alleging that he breached the tradition and rang the bell several times on their market day while on board the boat to anger the River goddess.

Some individuals, however, are pointing fingers at the rescuers who rescued some, but wasted time to look for the other drowned passengers, including Junior Pope.

Speaking, NIWA’s Area Manager, Nicholas Suleiman, confirmed the two deaths in the accident.

He affirmed that seven people were rescued alive, while three persons are still missing, comprising two females and a male out of the 12 on board the ill-fated boat.

Suleiman said: “Whatever you will get now as the cause of the incident may not be accurate, we are waiting for the report from my men who are at the scene of the incident. My men are on the water now to recover the remaining three missing victims.”

Reacting, the wife of Anambra State Governor Dr. Nonye Soludo has condemned the insensitivity of bystanders who delayed in time of emergency without applying timely first aid treatment to the victims.

She described their attitude as inhuman and disheartening.