Nollywood producer Adanma Luke has stepped forward to address accusations leveled against her following the tragic loss of Junior Pope and five other crew members during the filming of her movie.
Luke took to her Instagram page to refute claims of negligence and abandonment, asserting her active involvement in supporting the grieving families.
It has become necessary for me to make a statement because of the false allegations being made against me.
Since the tragic loss of Junior Pope, Abigail, Precious, Friday, and Olanti, my team and I have been actively collaborating with the families to provide necessary funds as requested, from the gravediggers to the divers and fuel for the police officers involved in the search for the bodies.
This also includes expenses for caskets, ambulances, and additional funds to cover other related ones.
Each crew member’s family received agreed amounts and some decided to have their loved ones buried by the waterside as they believe that those who die by drowning should be laid to rest near water.
This ritual involved invoking the spirit into a casket lined with a plantain leaf, which was then sent to the family for burial. I have video evidence of their agreement to these arrangements.
Additionally, my team and I arranged the departure of the ambulance from Asaba to the homes of Precious and Friday.
As a result of this, my team and I will be sharing details and video proof of everything that has happened since this tragedy. In this time of a huge kiss and mourning for these families, the allegations that I have not taken any action are complete lies. My team and I remain in communication with the police and members of the families who have lost their loved ones”.
“I’m human and can’t be that heartless to not do anything so they can rest in peace”.
Luke’s statement comes amidst intense scrutiny and backlash following the tragic incident that claimed the lives of Junior Pope and five other crew members. Reports revealed that the actors died from drowning while filming on the river without proper safety measures in place.
In her initial public statement, Luke clarified that contrary to reports, life jackets were provided for the crew. She expressed profound shock and trauma over the tragedy, grappling with feelings of responsibility as she blamed herself for not being on the boat alongside them, including her brother’s two children.
