By Abdulmalik Magwe Bello
Report from Taraba State, North East Nigeria says, Malam-Audu Bridge, linking Pantisawa – Jalingo has ruptured leaving commuters and pedestrians stranded at both sides of the divide.
Our Correspondent reports that the incident, which occurred late on Wednesday, around 1:25 PM has left the road impassable while the cause of the collapse is still under investigation.
Sunday Solomon, an eyewitness, and a resident of Malam-Audu, on a telephone conversation, when inquired about the incident said, “Hearing a loud cracking sound before a section of the bridge gave way. It was like thunder.”
“As I speak, the bridge is inaccessible, even the motorcyclists are now paying costly amount of money for their motorcycles to be lifted up by several individuals. Each motorcycle is being charged for ₦1,000 naira, while travelers are paying ₦500 to be piggyback before crossing,” he said.
“Commuters, many of whom were on their way home, found themselves trapped,” he added..
The absence of any official presence or emergency response has been a major point of contention among those affected.
The incident has not only disrupted daily routines but also sparked fears about the safety of other bridges.
The local government has yet to issue an official statement, leaving residents with a sense of abandonment and a growing call for urgent action.
Malam-Audu was constructed around 2023 by the former national lawmaker, Kasimu Bello Maigari. The bridge had not only served as a link between Pantisawa to Jalingo, but served as a seamless route, conveying people within 20-25 minutes to Jalingo, and also revive commercialization activities.
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