Zamfara Bridge Collapse Claims 19 Lives at Wedding Procession

A tragic accident in Zamfara State has claimed the lives of at least 19 wedding guests after a vehicle carrying a bride and her family plunged into a river when the Gwalli Bridge collapsed.

The incident occurred on Saturday, September 13, 2025, around 4:45 pm in Fass community, Gummi Local Government Area, as the vehicle was transporting guests from Fass to Jega community. Victims included men, women, and children, many of them relatives of the late Sheikh Dauda Fass, a former member of the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene, recalling how the vehicle fell from the weakened bridge into the water below. Survivors and residents pulled victims out, but 19 were confirmed dead at the site.

The Gwalli Bridge, which connects several communities in the Gummi axis, had long been in disrepair. Despite rehabilitation during the administration of former Governor Abdulazeez Yari, heavy rainfall eroded its structure seven years ago. Local residents had made temporary repairs by sand-filling damaged sections earlier this year, but the effort proved insufficient. The bridge finally gave way, resulting in the devastating loss of lives.

Community members have described the disaster as preventable, citing years of government neglect of rural infrastructure. They are appealing to both the Federal and State governments to urgently rebuild the bridge and support grieving families with relief materials.

Mass burials have already been held for the victims, while residents mourn and fear further tragedies if immediate action is not taken.

The collapsed bridge remains a vital link for trade, travel, and social connections in the region, and its absence poses a serious threat to the safety and livelihood of surrounding communities.