Eric Patrick
The Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Gulu, Reverend Father James Omeh has died after he was swept away by floodwaters during heavy rainfall.
Omeh is also the Coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State.
A female passenger identified as Charity John who was travelling with him also died.
According to report gathered, the incident occurred on Saturday, 24 May 2025, along the Lapai-Gulu Road.
The priest was travelling to Gulu around noon when he encountered the collapsed Lapai-Gulu bridge after passing Duma village. He attempted to turn back but was caught in rising floodwaters.
He was driving a white Hilux vehicle when the flood swept it into a deep, waterlogged gully.
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The Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the Incident to newsmen saying that around 1 p.m. on May 25, 2025, the police received information that Rev. Fr. James and one Charity John had been swept away by floodwaters while en route to Gulu village in a white Toyota Hilux.
According to him, the victims were carried into a flooded stream following a heavy downpour and drowned.
He said that police operatives from the Lapai Division, with assistance from community members, recovered their bodies at the scene.
The remains were handed over to the church for burial, and the vehicle was subsequently towed out of the stream.