The Kano State Police Command said that
it had started investigation into the
cause of the collapsed bridge that killed
seven persons in Kano on Sunday.
Also, the state Governor, Rabiu
Kwankwaso, said
the government would
force the contractor handling the project
to pay for the medical bills of the injured
victims.
The contractor, the governor added,
would also be forced to pay
compensation to families of those who
died in the incident.
The command’s Public Relations Officer,
ASP Magaji Majiya, who spoke with our
correspondent on Monday, said that the
police was interested in knowing the
cause of the collapse in order to stop
recurrence of such a tragic incident.
He explained that initial reports showed
that the driver of the ill-fated cab driver’s
disobedience to an instruction by
workers at the site not to drive under the
bridge was responsible for the tragedy.
Asked whether the contractor handling
the project would be invited for
questioning, the PPRO said further probe
would determine that.
While sympathising with the families of
those who lost their lives, the state
governor also prayed for the speedy
recovery of the injured, who were
receiving medical attention at the
hospital.
In a press statement, signed by Ibrahim
Dantiye, who is the Director of Press to
the Governor, Kwankwaso, vowed to
ensure that the company handling the
project adequately compensated the
victims and their immediate families.
The governor also called on the public to
be patient and continue to obey law and
order so as to avoid disasters.
Kwankwaso also called on other
companies handling construction works
in the state to execute their projects in
such a manner that would ensure
minimum discomfort to road users.
The Kano Police Command had on
Sunday confirmed the death of not less
than seven persons, following the
collapse of a pedestrian bridge at Dorayi
quarters in Kano metropolis.
Majiya, who confirmed the collapse of the
pedestrian bridge, disclosed that the
incident happened around 4.45 pm on
Sunday when the bridge, still under
construction, caved in and collapsed on
the ill-fated taxi.
“It should be noted that the workers on
site forewarned motorists not to use the
bridge as construction work was ongoing
but the driver of the taxi was said to have
ignored the warning,” he said.
