What was supposed to be a day of love and new beginnings turned into black sorrow in Zamfara State after a horrific accident claimed at least 19 lives. On Saturday evening, September 13, 2025, a vehicle carrying a bride, her relatives, and other wedding guests plunged into a river when the weakened Gwalli bridge suddenly collapsed at Fass community in Gummi Local Government Area.
The tragedy struck around 4:45 pm as the convoy was moving the newlywed bride to her husband’s home in Jega community. Witnesses said the old bridge had long shown signs of decay, but no one expected it to give way at that very moment. The vehicle, heavily loaded with men, women, and children, tumbled into the fast-flowing water beneath before anyone could react.
Babangida Halifa Ibrahim Fass, a resident who lost close family members in the crash, recounted the moment with deep pain. “They were taking her to her husband’s house when the bridge gave way and the vehicle went straight into the water,” he told reporters. Rescue efforts came too late for most of the passengers, leaving the community in mourning.
Locals described the scene as one of chaos and heartbreak, with relatives screaming along the riverbanks as bodies were pulled out one after another. Some community members expressed anger at the government for failing to repair the dilapidated bridge despite repeated warnings about its dangerous condition.
The Fass community has now been thrown into grief, with the wedding turning into a mass funeral. As villagers bury their loved ones, the haunting question remains: how many more lives must be lost before authorities fix the broken bridges of Zamfara?
