A devastating incident was recorded on Friday in Aba, Abia State, after the Osisioma Flyover reportedly collapsed shortly after a heavily loaded cement truck passed over it, leaving no fewer than 10 people feared dead and many others injured.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that several of the victims were traders and passersby who were beneath the bridge at the time of the collapse.
As of the time of reporting, emergency agencies including the police, fire service, and state emergency responders were still at the scene removing debris, amid concerns that additional victims may be trapped under the wreckage.
Initial findings suggest that the structure gave way moments after a cement-laden truck crossed the flyover. Residents noted that repeated movement of heavy-duty vehicles on the bridge had long sparked fears about its stability.
A trader who witnessed the disaster described the moment, saying, “There was a loud cracking sound, and suddenly the bridge came down. People screamed and ran in different directions. It was horrifying.”
The flyover, which was completed and opened to the public only a few years ago, has now become the subject of public outrage and scrutiny.
Many residents attributed the collapse to poor construction quality and prolonged infrastructure neglect, allegedly linked to past administrations. One angry resident at the scene demanded accountability, stating that the standard of the project must be investigated thoroughly.
“If a bridge that is barely a few years old can collapse like this, then something is seriously wrong. Those responsible must be held accountable,” the resident said.
While some citizens specifically blamed the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for allegedly overseeing substandard construction, experts have advised against rushing to conclusions until a detailed technical assessment is carried out.
A structural engineer, speaking on the incident, noted that although investigations are still ongoing, a properly designed and maintained flyover should not experience such catastrophic failure unless there were serious flaws in design, construction, maintenance, or excessive loading.
