At least 19 people have lost their lives in a tragic accident after a vehicle carrying a bride and her family plunged into a river following the collapse of the dilapidated Gwalli Bridge at Fass community in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The fatal incident occurred on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at about 4:45 pm, when the vehicle conveying wedding guests from Fass to Jega community fell from the weakened bridge into the river beneath.
Among the victims were men, women, and children, all family members of the late Sheikh Dauda Fass, a former member of the Zamfara State House of Assembly.
A grieving resident, Babangida Halifa Ibrahim Fass, who lost relatives in the accident, recalled the devastating moment:
“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.”
A bridge in long neglect
The Gwalli Bridge, which links several towns and villages in the Gummi axis, had been in a state of disrepair for years. Though it was rehabilitated during the administration of former Governor Abdulazeez Yari, heavy rainfall eroded the structure seven years ago, leaving the community to make desperate fixes.
Earlier this year, residents of Gwalli, Yar Gusau, and Fass villages carried out communal sand-filling to patch the damaged sections, but the effort proved insufficient. On Saturday, the bridge finally gave way, resulting in the catastrophic loss of lives.
Community cries for help
Local leaders have described the incident as an “avoidable tragedy,” blaming years of government neglect of rural infrastructure.
They are calling on both the Federal Government and Zamfara State authorities to urgently rebuild the bridge and provide relief materials to support the bereaved families.
“This is not just a Gwalli problem, but a crisis affecting the entire Bardoki ward in the Gummi axis. We urge the authorities to come to our aid before more lives are lost.” one resident lamented.
Mourning and fear of recurrence
The community is now in deep mourning, with mass burials held for the victims. Residents fear that unless urgent steps are taken to reconstruct the collapsed bridge, more lives could be lost to similar disasters, given its importance for trade, transportation, and social connections across the region.