A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. James Omeh, and a woman, Charity John, have died after their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters along the Lapai-Gulu Road in Niger State.
Fr. Omeh, the parish priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Gulu and the CAN coordinator in Lapai, was caught in a heavy downpour on Sunday. He was driving a white Toyota Hilux when the flood swept the vehicle into a deep ditch near Duma village.
Residents said he was trying to turn back after discovering the road ahead had collapsed. The vehicle was later found by locals with help from the Sarkin Ruwa. Both bodies were recovered and handed over to the church.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying the vehicle has also been retrieved. Locals have renewed calls for repairs on the dangerous Lapai-Gulu Road, which connects Niger and Kogi States.
