A Catholic priest, Reverend Father James Omeh, and a female passenger have drowned following a bridge collapse caused by severe flooding in Niger State.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday along the Lapai-Gulu Road after heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding in the area. Rev. Fr. Omeh, who served as the Parish Priest of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Gulu, was also the Coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Lapai Local Government Area.
According to reports, the cleric was traveling to Gulu around noon when he encountered the collapsed Lapai-Gulu Bridge shortly after passing Duma village. When he attempted to turn back, his vehicle was caught in the rapidly rising floodwaters.
Local volunteers and the Sarkin Ruwa (traditional water authority) assisted in recovery efforts, retrieving both the vehicle and the bodies of the deceased priest and his female passenger.
The incident highlights the dangers posed by Nigeria's rainy season, which often leads to flash floods and infrastructure damage in various parts of the country. Local authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident or measures being taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
This tragedy comes amid growing concerns about the state of infrastructure in rural areas and the impact of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns across Nigeria.
