A heartbreaking tragedy hit the town of Lapai on Thursday morning as two brothers, Ismail Alaba and his sibling, drowned in the Katcha River while returning from a shopping trip.
The pair had reportedly traveled to a nearby town to purchase bags of rice.
According to eyewitnesses, their canoe capsized mid-river, plunging them into the fast-moving current.
The river’s flow was believed to be unusually strong at the time of the incident.
Despite the quick response from locals who rushed to the scene, both brothers could not be rescued. Their bodies were later recovered by community volunteers after several hours of searching and brought back to Lapai, where news of the tragedy sparked an outpouring of grief.
Ismail Alaba was a well-known and beloved member of the community, operating a popular Point of Sale (POS) business at the Low-Cost Junction. He was widely described as cheerful, hardworking, and always ready to help others.
“It’s hard to believe they’re gone,” a distraught resident said. “Ismail was just here yesterday, attending to customers with his usual smile.”
The heartbreak is even deeper for the family, who had only recently buried another son who died from injuries sustained during a football match.
Mourners continue to visit the bereaved family, offering condolences and prayers.
Meanwhile, social media and local forums have been flooded with heartfelt tributes as the community struggles to come to terms with the devastating loss.
