A heartbreaking incident has rocked the Catholic Church in Niger State, as Reverend Father James Omeh and a female passenger, Charity John, drowned after their vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in Lapai Local Government Area.
According to the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the tragedy occurred on Saturday, May 25, 2025, following a torrential downpour that left several roads submerged. The victims were returning from a religious event in Duma village when their white Toyota Hilux plunged into a gully created by erosion.
Eyewitnesses say the road had become treacherous due to flooding. Father Omeh, who was driving, reportedly lost control of the vehicle before it was engulfed by a waterlogged gully. Despite efforts by community members to rescue them, both Father Omeh and Charity were found lifeless inside the submerged vehicle.
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“Police operatives from Lapai Division, with help from locals, recovered the bodies and handed them over to the Church for burial,” SP Abiodun confirmed.
Father Omeh served as Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Gulu, and was the CAN Coordinator for Lapai LGA. His death has sent shockwaves through the Christian community in Niger, with many remembering him as a spiritual leader and unifier.
The incident has drawn attention to the state of infrastructure and erosion management in flood-prone regions. Residents are calling on the Niger State Government to repair vulnerable roads and implement long-term erosion control systems to prevent future tragedies.
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