Travelers from Jalingo to Wukari in Taraba State, as well as those heading to southern states in Nigeria, are now being compelled to seek alternative routes due to the collapse of a key bridge in the state.

The bridge, which connects Jalingo, the state capital, to Wukari and nearby Benue State, was severely damaged following heavy rainfall which occurred on Thursday night.

The rain, which began around 11 p.m. and lasted until 5 a.m. Friday, caused significant flooding.

The damaged bridge, as of the time of filing this report, has left the road impassable, causing major disruptions for travelers.

A local community leader, Nathaniel Ukule, who spoke with our reporter,

attributed the collapse to the overwhelming volume of water from the rain.

While calling on the authorities to urgently put the bridge in proper shape, he emphasized the severe impact on travellers.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that travelers were now forced to take a much longer route through Garba-Chede in Bali local government council before accessing Jalingo, the administrative headquarters of the state.

A commercial driver, Ibrahim Sani, also expressed his frustration upon discovering the collapsed bridge.

Sani, who said he started his journey in Benue State, noted that the money collected for transport were spent on fuel due to the lengthy detour.

Like many others, who spoke with DAILY POST, he pleaded with the government to swiftly address the situation to ease the ongoing suffering of the road users.