Bombers suspected to be members of the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, have blown off some parts of Madafuma Bridge linking 185km Biu- Damboa- Maiduguri federal road.
The explosion of the group’s Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) under the popular bridge over the weekend left motorists and passengers stranded.
The road had been notorious for attacks for the past two years, terrorists ambushing motorists and passengers, kidnapping and killing many of them. Most people of Biu, Garkida, Numan, Shani, Taraba have since neglected the bridge and resorted to following Gombe State, meaning they have to travel 12 hours to get to Maiduguri, Borno State instead of 3 to 5 hours by the bridge.
Less than 10 days ago, terrorists had ambushed the 195 Battalion of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army along the road, killing the commanding officer alongside a divisional Police officer and over 15 soldiers and 6 policemen.
According to Mallam Musa Yakubu, a local resident, the bridge was bombed on Saturday at about 2am when people were asleep.
“We heard a loud bang on Saturday and on Sunday morning when we gathered in Madafuma village to go round our surroundings early in the morning, we found out that the bridge linking us with Biu local Government Area and MA Dara Girau has been blown off,” Yakubu said.
“All motorists heading to Maiduguri from Biu especially long vehicles had no option than to make u- turn back to Gombe, unfortunately, small vehicles had to manage the remaining thin portion which has not been affected in the blast, but it is very risky.”