An allegation claiming actress Mercy Johnson was engaged in the boat tragedy that killed Junior Pope and others has been refuted by the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).
Mercy Johnson had no connection with the boat tragedy, according to a statement released by the guild on Wednesday, May 8, and signed by its secretary, Abubakar Yakubu. The statement claims that during a recent Thanksgiving service, one of the survivors, Thank God Ikoma, mentioned someone named Emeka who used to be Mercy Johnson’s personal assistant. Since Emeka is well-known as “Emeka Mercy Johnson,” many people assumed he was referring to the actress.
According to AGN, a blogger later revealed Mercy Johnson’s involvement in the unfortunate event.
The statement read:
“Our attention has just been drawn to a disturbing and shocking mis-interpretation of statement of ordeal revealed by one of the survivors of the Asaba boat mishap which claimed the lives of Jnr Pope and four other crew members recently.
“The revelation was made by Thank God Ikoma during a thanks giving service in a church recently where he mentioned that one Emeka Mercy Johnson who had served as a PA to Actress Mercy Johnson in the past and always referred to as Emeka Mercy Johnson apparently as his sobriquet.
“We vehemently condemn the bloggers this malicious mis-interpretation of the statement and urge our members, the general public and fans of Mercy Johnson to ignore the social media news as it is utterly false, baseless, unfounded and idiotic as Mercy Johnson was NOT on the ilI-fated boat.
“The mis-interpretation of the revelation was nothing but imagination of the blogger who could have been high on some substances. Please, ignore and disregard the statement and which was a calculated attempt to malign, smear and tarnish the good name, image and reputation of Mercy Johnson.”
This incident emphasizes the importance of social media and journalism ethics. In the haste to break breaking news first, both individuals and media outlets need to be cautious and double-check the veracity of their information. Propaganda and unverified reports can have detrimental effects on the community at large as well as the people concerned. It is our collective duty as admirers and backers of Nigeria’s entertainment sector to make sure that information is shared and consumed appropriately. The source and reliability of any news should be carefully considered before accepting or disseminating it. By doing this, we may contribute to the integrity of our cherished sector and stop the spread of false information.
The Actors Guild of Nigeria’s explanation of Mercy Johnson’s purported role in the boat tragedy that killed Junior Pope and other people should serve as a warning to always double-check information before taking it at face value. It is crucial that we unite as a community during tragic times to support one another and make sure the truth wins out. Let us remember those who have passed away by acting with compassion, honesty, and integrity in whatever we do.
