Five young men lost their lives after the canoe they were traveling in capsized while crossing the Aza River in Abia State.
The heartbreaking incident occurred on Wednesday, May 29, 2025.
The deceased were on their way from Epomiri Village in Ovom Ama Asaa, Obingwa LGA, to attend a wake ceremony at Umunkanma Village in Ugwunagbo LGA. The canoe overturned mid-trip, throwing all passengers into the water.
According to reports, the victims included two young men from Umuejea Village, two from Okuenyi Village (Ward 10), and one from Akpaa Mbato (Ward 8), all in Obingwa LGA.
This tragic loss has thrown the entire Obingwa and Ugwunagbo communities into deep mourning.
The incident has also sparked concern over the safety of water transportation in rural areas, especially in communities where canoes remain the only available means of crossing rivers.
Residents have called on the government to step in by providing safer and more reliable alternatives to prevent future occurrences.
