.
The Abakpa-Nike
metropolitan main bridge, linking the largest populated suburb in Enugu, on
Wednesday, night caved-in due to heavy rainfall and has cut off over one
mil-lion residents of the coal city. The 37-year-old bridge that was built
shortly after the Nigeria civil war, did not initially show any sign of threat
before its sudden collapse at about 7.30 pm on Wednesday night when there was a
heavy down pour. No causality was, however, recorded.
Mrs. Rosemary Obika, who leaves close to the bridge, said that at
about 7.00 pm that night, they heard a loud noise and before they could get
there, the bridge had already gone down.
“People scampered for safety as motorists and other road users
were diverted to Penoks area to avoid the collapsed bridge. As this was going
on, another section of the bridge also collapsed and it completely cut off the
road. There was great confusion.”
Visiting the scene yesterday, Enugu State
government officials had deployed Arab Contractors, a con-struction company to
the location, while the bridge was barricaded as security men kept vigil at the
place