One Year After Collapse, Katsina Community Cries Out Over Lifeline Bridge as Residents Fear More Deaths

Residents of Manomawa community in Ingawa Local Government Area of Katsina State have renewed calls for urgent government intervention over a collapsed bridge that has left the area isolated during the rainy season, exposing residents to hardship and life-threatening situations.

The community said the bridge, which caved in more than a year ago, has continued to disrupt movement, cut off access to neighbouring communities and hinder economic activities whenever heavy rainfall causes flooding.

Speaking on the situation, a resident, Adamu Abdulhamid, described the bridge as a major safety risk, particularly for residents in need of urgent medical attention.

According to him, the damaged structure becomes completely impassable during periods of heavy rain, leaving residents stranded and unable to access essential services.

Abdulhamid recounted a heartbreaking incident in which a community member reportedly lost his life after family members were unable to transport him to a hospital because floodwaters had submerged the road.

“We made efforts to take him to the hospital, but the flood prevented us from crossing. By the next day, we were preparing for his burial,” he said.

He noted that the affected road serves as a vital route linking parts of Ingawa Local Government Area with neighbouring Kano State, making it an important corridor for transportation, trade and social activities.

The prolonged collapse of the bridge, he said, has negatively affected commerce, restricted access to healthcare and education, and increased the suffering of residents who rely on the route for their daily activities.

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Abdulhamid further revealed that community leaders had repeatedly drawn the attention of local authorities to the problem, including the chairman of Ingawa Local Government Area and other government officials.

According to him, although government representatives once visited the site to assess the damage and take measurements, residents have yet to see any concrete action toward reconstruction.

“The chairman sent officials to inspect the area and carry out measurements, but since then, nothing has happened. The community is still waiting for a solution,” he alleged.

The residents appealed to the Katsina State Government, development partners, philanthropists and humanitarian organisations to urgently intervene and reconstruct the bridge before the peak of the rainy season.

They warned that continued delay could expose more residents to danger, especially those requiring emergency medical care and those travelling between communities for business and other essential needs.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the chairman of Ingawa Local Government Area were unsuccessful, as messages sent to him had not been responded to as of the time this report was filed.