A tragic accident occurred on Sunday in Taraba State when a commercial bus belonging to Adamawa Express plunged into the Namnai River in Gassol Local Government Area.
The incident was first reported by security analyst Zagazola Makama through a post on X (formerly Twitter). According to him, the crash happened while the bus was attempting to cross the collapsed Namnai Bridge.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the vehicle, en route to Taraba, lost balance on a broken section of the bridge and tumbled into the river in the early hours of the day.
The Namnai Bridge, which collapsed more than a year ago, has yet to be rehabilitated despite repeated government assurances. Local residents described the neglected structure as a persistent danger to road users.
“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,” one resident lamented.
Makama noted that the exact number of passengers on board and the extent of casualties were still unclear as of press time. Images attached to his post showed the wreckage of the bus and bodies recovered from the river.
Efforts to reach the Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, Yahaya Suleiman, were unsuccessful, as calls to his mobile phone did not connect, and messages sent to him remained unanswered.
The accident has intensified calls for immediate government action to repair the Namnai Bridge, which motorists say continues to pose a deadly risk to commuters.
