Taraba: Many feared killed as bus plunges into river

Taraba map

Tragedy struck on Sunday after a commercial bus conveying an unspecified number of passengers plunged into the Namnai River in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.

PUNCH learnt this on Sunday from a post on X by a security expert, Zagazola Makama.

According to him, the incident occurred while the vehicle branded Adamawa Express was attempting to cross a collapsed bridge.

Makama also quoted an eyewitness who said the incident occurred in the early hours of the day, while the bus, which was en route to Taraba State, lost balance on the broken portion of the bridge and tumbled into the river.

“An Adamawa Express bus on Sunday plunged into the Namnai River in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State while attempting to cross a collapsed bridge.

“Eyewitnesses told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred in the early hours of the day when the bus, en route to Taraba, lost balance on the broken section of the Namnai Bridge and fell into the river.

“The Namnai Bridge, which collapsed over a year ago, is yet to be rehabilitated despite repeated promises by successive governments to fix it,” he wrote.

He further stated that the accident had heightened fears among motorists and commuters plying the route, while they described the neglected bridge as a constant threat to lives and property.

“We have lost many lives and property here because of the government’s neglect. This tragedy shows how urgent the repair of this bridge is,” he quoted a resident.

He also noted that details on the number of passengers and possible casualties had yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Yahaya Suleiman, could not be reached as his telephone did not connect when our correspondent called it, while a text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.