The remains of the talented Nollywood makeup artist, Ms. Abigail Frederick, tragically lost in a boat accident along with Nollywood star actor, Junior Pope, have been reburied in Akwa Ibom State.
Sponsored by the Akwa Ibom state government, the burial ceremony took place on Monday, April 15th.
The tragic incident occurred last Wednesday as the Thespians were returning from a movie location on the Anam River in Anambra State.
Initially buried by the riverbank due to financial constraints preventing her parents from meeting village demands for rituals and burial expenses, the Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno, intervened.
The governor, who extended condolences to the family, ordered the exhumation of Abigail's body from the riverside for a proper burial in her hometown.
Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Eno, Ekerete Udoh, conveyed the governor's directive: “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’.”
Ekerete Udoh also highlighted Abigail's qualities: “Ms. Abigael Edith Frederick was a quintessential example of our young people who have hearkened to our clarion call for them to ‘Arise and Shine’. She was a 24-year-old graduate of Theatre Arts, who had found her passion as a make-up artiste.”
The government expressed deep sadness over her passing and extended sympathy to her family, the Nollywood community, and her friends and colleagues.
“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,” added Ekerete Udoh.
