ATBU VC blames selfie-taking students for bridge collapse tragedy

The tragic bridge collapse which occurred at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) was allegedly caused by 30 students who were taking selfies when the bridge collapse happened.

The allegation was made by the Vice Chancellor of the ATBU, when he received the State’s Governor Bala Mohammed who paid him a condolence visit.

The VC who said the metal bridge could only carry 10-15 people at a time noted that the number of students on the bridge caused it to collapse.

He also denied claims that seven students lost their lives during the incident stating that it was three students that died, and no one was missing after the incident.

READ ALSO: BAUCHI: Varsity students feared killed in bridge collapse

He said, “The management felt that it was necessary to construct a metal bridge for between 10 and 15 people at a time. It was not meant for static loads but for dynamic loads, that means, you don’t stand on it, you just pass.

“The reports we received from some of the students were that when the rain had stopped and the students were about crossing, they found the scene excellent for them to take selfies.

“So they started from two and before you could realise it, there were more than 30 students on the bridge standing, and that bridge was not meant for people to stand.

“Some of the students could not pass and had to also stand, and the bridge suddenly collapsed and that was how we lost three students. As of today we don’t have any student missing.

“Based on our records, no student is missing for now. Three students –two from Kogi State and one from Benue State – were confirmed dead. Two females and a male and they were all from the department of business education and management studies,” he added.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now