Grief enveloped the Uwala Abaka community in Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State yesterday as the remains of Nollywood actor John Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope, were laid to rest.
The burial rites began at 10 a.m. with a commendation mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, Ukehe. Before this, his body lay in state at his father’s compound, allowing family, friends, and colleagues a final glimpse of the beloved actor. The burial followed at a private venue around 1:30 p.m.
The atmosphere was somber as colleagues and fans gathered to pay their final respects. Junior Pope’s wife, Jennifer Awele, was seen weeping uncontrollably, supported by their first son, who also broke down in tears. Notably, several A-list actors and the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) were absent from the ceremony.
The 43-year-old actor died alongside four others on April 10 when their boat capsized on the Anam River in Anambra State, returning from a movie shoot. Before the mishap, Pope shared a video of himself praying for safety as he appeared apprehensive about the journey.
Veteran actress Rita Edochie, speaking at the burial, expressed her heartbreak over the tragic loss, praying for God to accept Junior Pope’s soul. In an Instagram post ahead of the ceremony, she wrote, “I am currently at Ukehe in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State for the burial/funeral of my great son Junior Pope. I arrived last night, and since then, I have been wondering if he was actually the person everybody was gathering for. So this is actually a reality.”
Junior Pope made his acting debut in the 2004 movie “Lost in the Jungle,” with a minor role. His breakout role came in 2007 with Tchidi Chikere’s film “Secret Adventures.” Until his death, he was one of Nollywood’s most sought-after actors.
