Men in Taraba State have been seen carrying women on their heads to cross a flooded section of the Jalingo–Karim Lamido Road, a route that remains difficult to use during the rainy season. A video circulating recently shows men wading through deep floodwaters while balancing female travelers above their shoulders to help them get across.
The footage sparked concern among residents of Karim Lamido Local Government Area, who rely on the road for daily movement and transportation of goods. “This is the road from Jalingo to Karim Lamido. Grown men are carrying women on their heads just to cross,” a local resident said in the video.
The Jalingo–Karim Lamido Road links Karim Lamido with Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, and is used by farmers, traders, and commuters. Yet for years, sections of the road have flooded during rains, making travel difficult or impossible.
The latest incident came nearly two years after Governor Agbu Kefas promised to complete repairs on the road before his next campaign. Speaking at an event in Karim Lamido in 2024, he said: “Before my next campaign, I believe that the road from Jalingo to Karim Lamido would have been finished.”
Despite that promise, residents say the flooding problem persists. Some questioned their fate, asking, “Are we cursed in Taraba State?” as they expressed frustration over the ongoing hardship.
The state government has announced road construction and rehabilitation projects across Taraba, including major corridors. However, the Jalingo–Karim Lamido route remains a challenge during the rainy season.
The video showing men carrying women across the floodwater has renewed calls for urgent government intervention. The road’s condition limits access and complicates the movement of goods and people, affecting daily life in Karim Lamido and surrounding areas.
Local residents want the government to prioritize repair work to prevent future flooding and ease travel. The scene of men lifting women above the water captures the continued struggle on a route that remains unfinished despite official assurances.
According to Pulse.ng.
