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A heartbreaking incident occurred on Wednesday, May 29, 2025, as five young men lost their lives after the canoe they were traveling in capsized while crossing the Aza River in Abia State.
The deceased were on their way from Epomiri Village in Ovom Ama Asaa, Obingwa LGA, to attend a wake-keeping ceremony at Umunkanma Village in Ugwunagbo LGA. Sadly, they never made it, as the canoe overturned mid-river, 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. They were said to be journeying to pay their last respects to the dead when they met their untimely deaths.
This tragic loss has thrown the entire Obingwa and Ugwunagbo communities into deep mourning.
The incident has also sparked serious concern over the safety of water transportation in rural areas, especially in communities where canoes remain the only available means of crossing rivers.
Residents are now calling on the government to step in by providing safer and more reliable alternatives—such as bridges or ferries—to prevent future occurrences.
May their souls rest in peace
