By Sunny A. David, Awka
A Catholic priest and a woman were killed in Niger State, Nigeria, after being swept away by floodwaters on Sunday, May 25, 2026.
Reverend Father James Omeh, Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Gulu, and Charity John were traveling in a white Hilux vehicle along the Lapai-Gulu Road when the vehicle was submerged by rising floodwaters.
The incident occurred shortly after a heavy downpour, following reports that the Lapai-Gulu bridge near Duma village had collapsed.
Father Omeh, coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lapai LGA, was reportedly driving back towards Duma when the vehicle was swept away by the rapid floodwaters into a deep ditch.
Local residents and officials, including the Sarkin Ruwa (water chief), recovered the vehicle, but the bodies of Father Omeh and Charity John were found at the scene.
Residents expressed concern about the deteriorating condition of the Lapai-Gulu Road, highlighting the need for urgent repairs to prevent future tragedies.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the deaths, stating that Police recovered the bodies and turned them over to the church for burial.
The Police Spokesperson noted that the incident occurred around 1 p.m. local time.
This tragic loss underscores the vulnerability of communities in the region to flooding, especially when exacerbated by poor infrastructure.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.