Flood sweeps away Catholic priest, 1 other in Niger

The Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Gulu, in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, Reverend Father James Omeh, and a woman identified as Charity John, have died in a flood incident. Rev. Fr. Omeh, who also served as the Coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lapai LGA, was reportedly […]

The Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Gulu, in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, Reverend Father James Omeh, and a woman identified as Charity John, have died in a flood incident.

Rev. Fr. Omeh, who also served as the Coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lapai LGA, was reportedly swept away on Sunday afternoon following a heavy downpour that overwhelmed the Lapai-Gulu Road near a river.

Sources told Daily Trust that the priest and Charity were travelling in a white Hilux vehicle when the incident occurred.

According to a witness, the priest was heading toward Gulu at around noon when he discovered that the bridge near Duma village had collapsed. While attempting to turn back toward Duma, a sudden torrent of floodwater swept the vehicle into a deep, water-filled ditch.

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“Rev. Fr. Omeh, who was driving, lost track of the correct path through the flooded area and was carried away by the current,” a source explained.

Local volunteers, with assistance from the Sarkin Ruwa (water chief), later recovered the vehicle and the lifeless bodies of the priest and the woman.

Isah Mohammed, a resident, told Daily Trust that the bridge had shown signs of structural damage during the last rainy season but was never repaired.

“The bridge has been deteriorating since last year. No action was taken. This year’s first major rain brought it down. The road is heavily used as it connects Niger State with Kogi State,” he said.

A spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, saying that the bodies had been recovered and handed over to the church.

Residents expressed deep concern over the dilapidated state of the Lapai-Gulu road, which they say has become a death trap for commuters.

They described the road as a vital link between Niger and Kogi states, frequently used by private motorists and commercial transporters.

Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, extended his condolences to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Christian community over the tragic loss of Rev. Fr. Omeh.

In a statement by his media aide, Jonathan Vatsa, Governor Bago said the priest died at a time when his spiritual guidance and leadership were critically needed by the church and his community.

Following the incident, the Niger State Government initiated temporary repairs on a bypass to restore vehicular access along the damaged Lapai-Gulu Road.

Heavy equipment and construction materials have been deployed to the site, where work is ongoing to establish an alternative route for road users.