Tears flow as Two Brothers drown in Niger River

Tragedy hit the town of Lapai on the morning of Thursday, April 10, as two brothers, identified as Ismail Alaba and his younger sibling, drowned in the Katcha River while returning from a shopping trip.

Reports say the brothers had gone to a nearby town to buy bags of rice. On their way back, the canoe they were travelling in capsized in the middle of the river, throwing them into the heavy current. An eyewitness revealed that the river’s current was unusually strong at the time, which likely contributed to the accident.

Although bystanders quickly rushed to the scene in an attempt to help, they could not save the brothers. After hours of searching, their lifeless bodies were later found and brought back to Lapai by community volunteers and local divers. The sad news has thrown the town into deep mourning.

Ismail Alaba, the elder of the two, was a popular figure in the community. He operated a thriving Point of Sale (POS) business at Low-Cost Junction and was known for his cheerful nature, hard work, and willingness to assist others.

In a heartbreaking twist, a source close to the family disclosed that the loss is even more painful as the family had only recently buried another son who died from injuries sustained during a football game.