The Katarko bridge, which connected many parts of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Gombe states, collapsed on Tuesday morning as a result of heavy rain and flooding.
This comes after the only safer Maiduguri-Damaturu-Biu road and bridge near Buratai village collapsed last Sunday, killing a pregnant woman and sweeping away three vehicles.
As a result of the incident, passengers and motorists traveling from Biu to Maiduguri will have to detour through the towns of Darazau and Bakoka in Gombe state before reaching Potiskum and Damaturu on Tuesday, as the Katarko axis is no longer accessible.
Confirming the collapse of the Katarko bridge on Tuesday, Dr Mohammed Goje, Yobe State Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, told the Vanguard that the incident is very sad, as thousands of affected motorists and passengers will face difficulties in reaching their destinations.
“In the early hours of 30th August 2022, Yobe SEMA recieved sad news of Katarko Bridge being disconnected from the main road.
“This is the bridge and only road linking Damaturu to Gujba, Gulani and Biu local government areas.
“Already there are incidence of Flooding in Mutai, Buni Yadi and Gulani Communities which calls for major concerns especially in Mutai.
“Yobe SEMA has already reach out to the military to provide a barricade in Katarko as more civilians are trooping the scene to avoid civilian casualty.
“While this may affect immediate live saving support to communities already affected by Flood and or recovering from conflict, Yobe State Government is improvising alternative routes to reach to persons of concens as well as reconnect the affected communities.” Dr. Goje stated.
He also stated that the Yobe State Government, led by Governor Mai Mala Buni, is collaborating with Save The Children International (SCI), a non-governmental organization, to assist flood victims, with each household receiving N33,000 monthly for a period of five (5) months.
Similarly, according to the SEMA boss, the victims will be enrolled in the Yobe State Contributory Health Management Agency, YSCHMA, to receive a prescribed package of healthcare services for a year.
Goje explained that the gesture was prompted by a recent stakeholder meeting between his agency and SCI in Damaturu, the state capital.
With the deplorable condition and inaccessibility of the Maiduguri-Damaturu-Biu road, which is approximately 250 kilometers long, and the collapse of the Katarko bridge, motorists now have no choice but to take the over 500-kilometer drive through another axis, which is currently the only accessible one.
