Catholic Priest Drowns in Flood in Nigeria

NIGER STATE, Nigeria, May 29, 2025: Reverend Father James Omeh, a Catholic priest, and a woman identified as Charity John tragically drowned on Saturday, 25 May 2025, when their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters along the Lapai-Gulu Road near Duma village in Niger State, located in Nigeria’s North Central region.

According to sources, Rev. Fr. Omeh was travelling to Gulu around noon in his white Toyota Hilux van when he discovered that the Lapai-Gulu Bridge near Duma village had collapsed. As he attempted to turn back toward Duma, a sudden torrential downpour caused floodwaters to rise rapidly, engulfing his vehicle and dragging it into a deep, water-filled ditch.

Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident. He said police officers from the Lapai Division, supported by local residents, recovered the bodies of the victims along with the vehicle. “The lifeless bodies of the two victims were recovered and released to the Church for burial, while the vehicle was towed out of the stream,” SP Abiodun stated.

An eyewitness reported that local volunteers, including the Sarkin Ruwa, actively assisted in the search and retrieval efforts.

Rev. Fr. Omeh served as the parish priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Gulu, Lapai Local Government Area, and was the Coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lapai LGA. His untimely death has left a profound void among his parishioners and the wider Christian community in Niger State.

By Anthony Ufoh

Source: guardian.ng

Image Credit: X (@fr_petros)