The Anambra State Police Command has clarified that the body of the late actor, Junior Pope, was not buried by the riverside and therefore not “exhumed”, contrary to insinuations making the rounds.
The spokesman for the state command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated this after inquiries by our correspondent on Sunday, adding that the corpse was deposited at the morgue.
Ikenga said the command while seeking information on whether the recovered bodies, including Junior Pope, were buried by the riverside, where the boat accident happened, discovered that three of the deceased families accepted that the victims should be buried beside the river.
Five people, including Junior Pope, Abigail Frederick, Precious Oforum, and Joseph Anointing, died when their boat carrying 12 crew members capsized on the Anam River in Anambra West Local Government Area of the state last Wednesday.
On Saturday, the police command said the two boat operators conveying the late actor have been arrested. It also said the producer of the movie, Adanma Luke, voluntarily turned herself into the police.
There have been rumours that the body of the late actor was among those buried by the Riverside where the boat accident happened but later exhumed.
But reacting, Ikenga said, “The command on an inquiry about the unconfirmed information that the recovered bodies including Junior Pope were buried by the riverside where the boat accident happened, discovered that three of the deceased families accepted that the victim should be buried beside the river.
“But later, the family of one of the victims decided to exhume the body to be given a proper burial in her state while the other two were still buried there.
“Also, Junior Pope and one other are still in the morgue and awaiting the deceased family’s funeral arrangements, Please let’s be guided.
“Meanwhile, the producer of the movie and the two boat drivers’ statements have been obtained, and other necessary actions/moves already emplaced by the operatives as directed by the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Aderemi Adeoye.
“This is to determine the criminal liability of any person, if any, in the mishap.”
He assured Nigerians that nothing would be swept under the carpet concerning the investigation of the incident.
