Council pleads with Buhari, Irabor, Yahaya not to dismantle bridge

Some military operatives reportedly came to Gindiri town in Mangu Council of Plateau State, at the weekend, with the intention of demolishing the Langa-Langa Bridge linking Tonzong Community in Gindiri to other towns within and outside the town.

According to an eyewitness, the soldiers had removed all the notes, and said they would commence dismantling on Sunday.

However, the soldiers did not come the next day as they threatened.

Meanwhile, youths in the area mobilised themselves to the site, which some people believed was the reason the soldiers did not show up to avoid clash.

Yesterday, The National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Pyam Youth Movement in the area, Isa Kwarshak, and Chairman of Plateau State Youth Council of Mangu, D.T Stanley, worried by the ugly development, yesterday, issued a statement to avert any unforeseen circumstances.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Faruk Yahaya, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division, Jos Maj. Gen. Abdulsalami Ibrahim, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, as well as federal and state lawmakers from the zone to intervene to avoid the evil incident.

The statement reads:”It has come to the notice of Pyam Youth Movement (PYM) and Plateau State Youth Council (PYC), Mangu Council, that an order has been issued by the Nigerian Army from the Defence Headquarters for the dismantling of the old bridge linking Tongzong and Gindiri town constructed by the Nigerian army in 1973, which has connected the two communities for decades. The bridge has helped them interact and also enabled pupils and students attend schools, as well as aided other relevant activities from either side of the communities.

“If not for community intervention, this bridge would been have long forgotten and dilapidated; but efforts and support of the community, as well as sacrifices made by its sons and daughters have sustained the bridge to this level by way of ensuring worn out parts are replaced constantly.”

“If the military will take a survey and compare the bridge since construction to its current condition, it will be convinced that the bridge is standing due to the efforts of the community, which has ensured the bridge is in such good condition.”