A conflict between the Nigerian Army and residents of Gindiri Town in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State over the fate of a bridge that the army built 50 years ago is causing tension to rise.
Evidently for operational reasons, the Nigerian Army intends to move the bridge known as “LLanga Langa” from its current location and relocate it to the dreaded Sambisa Forest. However, the community, which had been dependent on the strategic infrastructure, strongly opposes any such action.
They insist that it should be stopped as soon as possible because they fear that cutting off the vital communication link would make it difficult for the locals to get around and cut them off from the rest of Nigeria.
Trouble began when the Nigerian Army sent a surveillance team to find out how the bridge was doing before taking it down and moving it to where it would be most useful strategically.
The natives, on the other hand, became apprehensive as soon as they saw the soldiers and began to organize against the removal of the bridge, which the Nigerian Army had built in 1973 to connect the local communities.
The fact that the bridge is the only link between the Tongzong community and the well-known Church of Christ in the Nations schools—the Boys Secondary School, Girls High School, COCIN Comprehensive Secondary School, College of Theology, and the Demonstration Primary School, among others—is one of the reasons that the community uses to justify their opposition to the bridge’s demolition.
It will be recalled that on February 3, 2023, the soldiers went to the community to lubricate the nuts ahead of the planned rod dismantling. Citizens in the community that was worried about its security became concerned when they saw the soldiers on the bridge, and they started to question why they were suddenly there.
On Saturday, February 4, 2023, they immediately mobilized and gathered on the bridge to express their displeasure with the Nigerian Army’s planned removal of the bridge, claiming that the facility had been their primary means of communication with other communities in the state and beyond for many years.
According to Isa Kwarshak, the National PRO of the Pyam Youth Movement, PYM, the Nigerian Army’s decision to move the bridge to Sambisa Forest came as a rude shock to them.
Kwarshak stated, The old bridge that connected the Tongzong/COCIN compound and Gindiri Township was going to be taken down, which is why there was a protest. Major-General Bisala, one of our sons, built the bridge while the late General Murtala Mohammed was in power, working with Army Engineer Col. Here is Ayuba Tense from Panyam.
“We will be cut off if they remove the bridge because that is the only bridge that connects Tongzong, COCIN schools, including the College of Theology, the Demonstration Primary School, the Boys Secondary School, and the Girls Secondary School.
According to the soldiers, the Chief of Army Staff was the one who suggested removing the bridge. They will have to kill all of us before they remove the bridge, but none of our leaders were informed of this.
Mr. Daniel Daput, Chairman of Mangu LGA, stated that rather than taking them by surprise, the army ought to have given them advance notice of what they planned to do on the bridge.
He stated, ” I immediately called the Army Commandant when I heard that the bridge was going to be taken down, but he assured me that everything was under control.
However, in a joint press release, the Mangu LGA Chapter Chairman of the Plateau Youth Council and the National Public Relations Officer of the Pyam Youth Movement, Isa Kwarshak Kwarshak, urged the army to reconsider its hasty decision regarding the community bridge.
The team said: ” We have learned that the Defence Headquarters of the Nigerian Army has given an order for the demolition of the old bridge, which was built in 1973 and connected the two communities for decades. This allowed students from both communities to attend schools and participate in other relevant progressive activities.
“If our children are denied access to education, we are deeply concerned and saddened by this ugly development regarding the future of our dear community.
“Presently the ceaseless instability influencing admittance to the two networks will be demolished by the colossal undertaking of crossing to one or the other side, especially during the downpours when the waterway will be full and spilling over.
“The bridge would have collapsed a long time ago if it weren’t for the intervention of our community, and we want the authorities to allow the bridge to continue serving our interests.
“For this reason, we plead with President Muhammadu Buhari, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces;” General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Staff of the Defense; Lieutenant General Christopher Commodore Faruk Yahaya; Major General Ibrahim Salau, the General Officer in Charge of Commanding the 3rd Armoured Division; and security agencies to stop us from being cut off from the rest of Nigeria by intervening.
“For the sake of our community, we appeal to the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, and all of the lawmakers in the state, as well as all of the sons and daughters of Plateau State, to use their connections to prevent the bridge from being dismantled.
The Nigerian Army, which built the bridge decades ago, has our sincere gratitude. We are asking for your assistance to halt the destruction of the bridge, which is our community’s hope, in light of this enormous benefit.
Captain John James, Operation Safe Haven’s spokesperson, however, declined to provide any specific information regarding the bridge removal strategy.
“The situation is under control, and I will provide further details when I have the information,” he merely stated to our correspondent.
In the meantime, people’s fear of what will happen next causes tension to grow with each passing day.
