Kaduna community laments abandoned bridge one year after six students drowned

One year after six schoolchildren drowned in the Ribang River while returning from their Junior WAEC examinations, Ribang (Mbang) community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has lamented what it describes as continued government neglect.

The community, in a statement on Monday, marked the first anniversary of the tragedy with a renewed call for urgent intervention to prevent a repeat of the 2024 incident.

In a press release issued by the National Public Relations Officer of Ribang Community, Simon Chinge, residents recalled the loss of the children who were swept away by floodwaters due to the absence of a bridge and safe road infrastructure.

“This devastating incident did not just rob us of our children; it painfully exposed the longstanding neglect and infrastructural decay in Ribang land,” Chinge said.

Following the incident, political leaders from across Kaduna State visited Ribang to sympathise with affected families and made several promises, including the construction of a bridge, roads, a healthcare centre, and schools.

However, the community says that one year after, none of those promises has been fulfilled.

There was a glimmer of hope earlier in June when officials from the Kaduna State Ministry of Works visited the area for a preliminary survey of the Ribang River and surrounding roads.

According to Chinge, the visit was on the directive of Governor Uba Sani.

“Though long overdue, we recognise this as a critical first step towards meaningful change, and we sincerely thank Governor Uba Sani for listening to the cries of our people,” he added.

As the rainy season sets in again, the community expressed fresh fears for schoolchildren, women, and the elderly who must cross the river daily.

The Ribang community has appealed to elected representatives and relevant government agencies for swift action.

Those called upon include Senator Sunday Marshall Katung (Southern Kaduna Senatorial District), Murtar Chawai (House of Representatives, Kauru Federal Constituency), Barnabas Maigona (Kaduna State House of Assembly, Kauru Constituency) and Bashir Tanko Dawaki (Chairman, Kauru LGA).

The demands include the construction of a standard bridge across the Ribang River, motorable roads, a functional healthcare centre, and standard primary and secondary schools.

Residents warn that the absence of health facilities continues to cost lives, especially among pregnant women and children, while poor access to education threatens the future of their young people.

“We will never forget the six children we lost. They were not just students, they were our future. Let their untimely deaths serve as a wake-up call to all,” the statement added.

While thanking those who stood in solidarity over the past year, the community insisted that what they now need is action, not sympathy.

“No community should be left behind in a nation that prides itself on unity and progress,” the statement concluded.