The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, has disclosed that 12 people were aboard during the boat mishap that killed Nollywood actor, Nollywood actor, John Paul Odonwodo aka Junior Pope.

NIWA said seven were rescued, two were found dead, while three people are missing.

The Area Manager of NIWA, Suleiman Nicholas, said the mishap occurred in the outskirts of Onitsha, in the Akpaka Area and Nsugbe of Anambra East local government area, contrary to initial reports that it happened in Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area.

In a statement he issued, Nicholas said his men were already at the scene of the incident in the Akpaka Area of Onitsha and Nsugbe, conducting rescue and recovery activities, with the men of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and Marine Police.

He 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.”

One whether actor Junior Pope was one of the dead victims, the NIWA Area Manager said: “My people said Junior Pope was one of the dead.”