There was pandemonium in Gboko, Benue States as angry youths and motorists too over a highway to protest the Federal Government’s delay in fixing a collapsed bridge on the road.
Over the weekend, the bridge, which has been showing signs, gave way after heavy rains.
The angry youths gave, under the aegis of Mbayion Youths, while reacting to the collapse of the bridge, asked the President Bola Tinubu-led government to fix the dilapidated bridge.
NIGERIACRIME observed that the damaged bridge links Enugu and other states in Nigeria’s southern region and that its collapse left profound repercussions for the local community, severing their connection to other parts of the state and the country.
The protesting youths warned residents and motorists not to contemplate travelling Gboko – Aliade road during the peaceful protest.
READ ALSO: How I Landed In Prison For Stealing N3,500 Dog – Adamawa Man
According to the leader of the youth group, Mr Denen Agber, “desperate action is a result of several futile attempts by the community to undertake makeshift repairs on the road, culminating in our decision to block the road.”
Agber further said the deplorable condition of the road and bridge has caused great pains and inconvenience to commuters in the area.
It was learnt that the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia instructed the Commissioner for Works and Housing, Hon. Itiza Imojime, and other government officials, to assess the damage and devise a solution.
Imojime paid a visit to the community’s leader, Chief Moses Iortileyua, urging him to instruct his subjects to reopen the usable portion of the road to facilitate human traffic.
In doing so, he assured the community head of an immediate response to alleviate the hardships faced by the residents while the state government initiated dialogue with the Federal Government to seek a lasting solution to the road’s woes.