Barely a year after the collapse of the Namnai Bridge, which severed a major highway linking the North-East with both the Eastern and Western regions of Nigeria, Taraba State has suffered another infrastructure setback.
On Thursday, August 14, 2025, the Malam Audu Bridge, a vital link between Jalingo, the state capital, and Pantisawa, headquarters of Yorro Local Government Area, caved in, leaving thousands of residents stranded.
The bridge, widely regarded as the shortest and most accessible route from Jalingo to Pantisawa and surrounding villages, plays a critical role in the movement of goods and people. It is particularly important for the transportation of yam and other farm produce cultivated in the agrarian communities of Yorro.
Since the collapse, commuters have been forced to pay locals to physically carry them across the water at the broken crossing, while others endure longer and more expensive detours via the Jalingo-Zing road.
“This is like adding salt to injury,” lamented residents, noting that while Tarabans are still grappling with the hardship caused by the collapsed Namnai Bridge, the fall of the Malam Audu Bridge has further crippled socio-economic activities, disrupted local markets, and reduced daily earnings for transporters.
Special Adviser on Revenue to the Yorro Local Government Chairperson, Malam Ubale Ibrahim, confirmed that no casualties were recorded during the collapse. However, he revealed that farmlands were washed away and livestock drowned. He recalled that earlier in the season, an elderly woman identified as Waman of Anguwan Jauro Saman Sumbu ‘A’ Ward lost her life while attempting to cross the flooded bridge.
Ibrahim disclosed that the local government had previously spent over ₦1 million to repair cracks on the bridge, but the latest flood surge swept it away completely. He appealed to the Taraba State Government to urgently step in, stressing that rebuilding the bridge was beyond the financial capacity of the council.
Local resident Saminu Kabir Umar described the incident as a devastating blow to the community:
“The Malam Audu Bridge linking Jalingo and Pantisawa has collapsed, cutting off our main route. This is our lifeline. Without it, movements, trade, and even emergencies are in danger. We appeal, with tears in our eyes, for immediate action to restore this vital link.”
Observers note that several other bridges across Taraba, including Jalingo-Wukari, Jalingo-Bali-Gashaka-Gembu, and Bali-Mararraba-Takum routes, are in varying states of disrepair, raising fears of further collapses if urgent rehabilitation measures are not undertaken.
