Junior Pope: Akwa Ibom Gov orders exhumation of corpse of makeup artist buried by river bank
The state government of Akwa Ibom, headed by Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, is adamantly requesting that the remains of their beloved daughter Abigail Fredrick be returned for a respectable and appropriate funeral.
Reputable Nigerian actor Pope Obumneme Odonwodo, often known as Junior Pope, lost his life in a horrific maritime accident that also claimed the life of Abigail, a talented makeup artist.
On Thursday, April 11, Abigail’s body was found and quickly buried by the riverbed without her distraught family’s knowledge or consent.
In a blatant display of superstition, the villagers are said to have ordered her burial by the river as retribution for her family’s claimed inability to please the river deity with a sacrifice before moving her remains.
The Akwa Ibom state government is determined in its demand for justice and the restoration of Abigail’s body to her lawful burial place. This heinous crime of disrespect and disregard for Abigail’s dignity and cultural norms cannot go unanswered.
The Statement reads;
“We are deeply saddened by her painful passing. On behalf of the Government and people of AKwa Ibom State, we sympathize with her family, the Nollywood community, and her friends and colleagues over this sad loss.
“We have also followed and read the reportage, especially on the social media platforms surrounding her burial and wish to state categorically that, government was not informed of the circumstances that led to her burial.
“His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, has consequently directed that her body be brought back to her family for a proper and decent burial. As the famous theme song of the Liverpool Football Club goes, the bereaved family will not “walk alone”.
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