Taraba flood disaster: Heavy rain collapses Jalingo-Yorro bridge, leaves commuters stranded

A major bridge linking Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, to Yorro Local Government Area has collapsed following a heavy downpour that swept through the city in the early hours of Friday, leaving hundreds of commuters and travellers stranded.

The affected bridge, popularly known as Gadan-Mallam-Audu Bridge, serves as a critical transportation link for farmers, traders, students, civil servants and other residents who move between Jalingo and communities in Yorro LGA.

The bridge is particularly important for the transportation of agricultural produce from the Yorro mountain communities into Jalingo, where the goods are sold in major markets.

A visit to the scene by our correspondent revealed scores of stranded commuters on both sides of the collapsed structure. Farmers travelling to and from Yorro, traders conveying goods, students and commercial motorcycle operators were unable to continue their journeys as there was no immediate alternative route.

The bridge is the only access point across River Mayo-Gwayi within the axis, making the situation especially difficult for residents and workers who rely on the route daily.

Many civil servants who commute from Jalingo to Yorro on motorcycles were also trapped after the bridge gave way.

Residents told our correspondent that the bridge had shown signs of structural weakness for several months before finally collapsing during Friday’s rainfall.

“The bridge was constructed through the intervention of Hon. Kasimu Bello Maigari, the former member of the House of Representatives for Jalingo, Yorro and Zing Federal Constituency, it form a treath for over some months before it has collapsed today,” Mr. Yohana Bulus, a civil servant with Yorro LGA, said.

The incident has heightened concerns over the condition of critical infrastructure across Taraba State, especially during the rainy season.

The collapse comes as residents are still grappling with the prolonged disruption caused by the failed River Namnai Bridge on the Jalingo-Wukari Highway. The bridge, located in Gasol Local Government Area, collapsed more than three years ago following heavy flooding and has remained a major challenge for road users.

Community members have called on the state and federal governments to urgently intervene and provide a temporary solution to ease movement and restore economic activities along the affected corridor.