19 wedding guests die as vehicle plunges into Zamfara river

At least 19 people died and several others were declared missing after a vehicle conveying wedding guests plunged into a river in the Fass community, Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Sunday.

The victims comprised members of the bride’s family.

Eyewitnesses told journalists on Monday that the incident occurred when a dilapidated bridge collapsed under the weight of the overloaded 18-seater bus.

There were more than 40 passengers, including women and children, in the bus at the time of the accident.

The victims were travelling to Sakaba village in Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State when the Toyota Hummer model bus plunged into the river.

According to eyewitnesses, after the vehicle fell into the water, only 17 corpses were initially recovered, with one recovered the following day, while other victims are still missing.

The victims, who were from three different communities of Zuru, Jega in Kebbi State, and Fass in Zamfara State, had converged at Fass village to travel to the wedding of the bride, identified as Hafsa Kabiru.

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A resident of the community said the ramshackle bridge was constructed by locals after it was abandoned by the government despite several appeals by the people.

‘The bridge, which has been in disrepair for over five years, is known by locals as a death trap-particularly during the rainy season when floodwaters render the area nearly impassable,” the resident said.

“As the convoy approached a hazardous section of the road near a collapsed bridge, the driver of the overloaded bus attempted to carefully navigate the treacherous crossing.

“The victims were family members of late Sheikh Dauda Fass, a former member of the State House of Assembly.

“The car fell from the bridge into the water. As they were brought out, we found 19 of them dead, including men, women, and children.

“The bridge, which links several towns and villages in the area, had been in a state of disrepair for years.

“The bridge was rehabilitated during the administration of former Governor Abdulazeez Yari. However, it was eroded by heavy rainfall seven years ago, leaving the community to fend for themselves.”

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