MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano

Police authorities in Kano, northwest Nigeria, on Monday said three persons died when a pedestrian bridge collapsed on a taxi cab in Dorayi axis of the state, just as Kano state government condoled with the families of the dead.

Media reports had put the figure of the dead at seven, but a hint from the office of the Police Public Relations Officer, Magaji Majia, revealed to our Correspondent that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of the area misinformed the Command, “and the Commissioner of Police has ordered his redeployment with immediate effect.”

The scene of the accident. NAN Photo

Our Correspondent reports that on Monday morning, the remaining part of the pedestrian bridge also collapsed, wounding a tricycle operator.

As at the time of filing this report, five wounded people were being treated at the hospital, just as Governor Rab’u Musa Kwankwaso has vowed to ensure that the contractor of the bridge, currently under construction, compensate the victims.

According to sources, the bridge on Sunday evening, collapsed on a taxi cab, killing three people, while four others were critically injured.

In a press statement signed by Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, Director of Press and Public Relations to Governor Kwankwaso and made available to our Correspondent on Monday, Kano state government condoled with the victims and promised to ensure that the families of the dead are duly compensated, while the wounded will undertake adequate treatment.

“It has come to the notice of the Kano state government that three people have lost their lives and one got injured as a result of mounting a concrete slab on the pedestrian bridge along Sheik Ja’afar Road that hit a taxi cab yesterday, Sunday. The government condoles with the families of those that lost their lives and pray for the quick recovery of the injured who is currently in a hospital.”

The statement further called on the people, “to be patient and continue to obey law and order as doing so will avoid a lot of unnecessary consequences. The governor also calls on the companies that are undertaking numerous construction works in the state to continue doing their work in a manner that will ensure minimum discomfort to road users.”