Hundreds Stranded as Makeshift Bridge Collapses at Namnai in Taraba State
Hundreds of passengers and motorists were left stranded on Thursday after a temporary bridge at the site of the collapsed Namnai Bridge in Taraba State gave way, following heavy rainfall that caused the River Namnai to overflow its banks. The incident occurred along the busy Jalingo-Wukari Trunk A Federal Highway in Gassol Local Government Area. The original Namnai Bridge collapsed about two years ago and has yet to be fully reconstructed, forcing travellers to rely on a makeshift crossing constructed by a private individual. This temporary structure, which charged between ₦3,000 and ₦20,000 per vehicle, had become a lifeline for hundreds of vehicles, including trucks, daily. However, the heavy downpour on Wednesday night washed it away, leaving the river impassable due to high water levels. Eyewitnesses and drivers at the scene described chaos, with vehicles parked on both sides of the riverbank. Passengers were forced to cross the swollen river on foot or with assistance from l...