Flood Sweeps Away Catholic Priest, Female Passenger

Tragedy struck in Niger State on Sunday as a devastating flood claimed the lives of Reverend Father James Omeh, Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Gulu, and a woman identified as Charity John. Rev. Fr. Omeh, who also served as the Coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lapai Local Government Area, was traveling along the Lapai-Gulu Road when the incident occurred.

Sources confirmed that the priest was en route to Gulu when he encountered a collapsed bridge near Duma village. Attempting to turn back amid a sudden torrential downpour, his white Hilux vehicle was swept away by rapidly rising floodwaters into a deep ditch filled with water.

Local volunteers, supported by the community leader known as the Sarkin Ruwa, later recovered the vehicle and the lifeless bodies of Rev. Fr. Omeh and Charity John at the scene.

Residents blamed the incident on the poor condition of the Lapai-Gulu Road, which they said has been a long-standing hazard. Many have renewed their calls for urgent government intervention to prevent further loss of life on the busy road that connects Niger and Kogi States.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said police operatives from Lapai Division responded to the report around 1 p.m. on May 25. With the help of community members, the victims’ bodies were recovered and handed over to the Church for burial, while the vehicle was pulled from the stream.