A poorly constructed bridge in Mapa, an Abuja suburb, frequently claims lives whenever it rains, according to Tracka, an accountability organisation monitoring public projects across the country.
Tracka noted that the bridge serves as the major access road to the community, and it has been in bad shape for the past three years.
Last Tuesday, a lady simply identified as Queen was trapped in the flooded bridge. Up to now, her body has not been found, according to residents. Some residents said they saw her drowning but unfortunately no one could help. They feared they could be trapped as well. In the past three years, the bridge had also “claimed” four persons.
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According to Yunusa Luka, a youth leader in the community, residents are yet to find Queen’s body. Although the incident has been reported to the police, he said.
“Up to now, we have not found her corpse. We have been searching nearby streams and river banks but couldn’t find her,” Luka said, urging Tracka to help them reach out to the appropriate authorities.
According to the residents, the situation hindered them to go outside the community for their daily business activities. It has also interrupted their wards’ education as they can not cross the flooded bridge.
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“We urge Hon. John Gabaya Shekwogaza, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Rt. Hon. Micah Jiba representing Abuja North Federal Constituency, Senator Phillip Aduda, representing FCT Abuja, and FCT Minister of state Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, to urgently look into this issue and repair the bridge to enable the community to survive rains and flood,” Tracka pleaded.
