RESIDENTS of Elebele community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Friday appealed for the speedy repair of Elebele bridge which collapsed on Thursday.

JOHN Jacobs, a Community leader  in the oil producing community who spoke on behalf of his people disclosed that the bridge which connects the state capital, Yenagoa to Ogbia, Nembe and Brass caved in when a truck laden with crushed granite stone was crossing to a construction site.

The development left scores of vehicles on both sides of the bridge stranded while residents gathered to watch the truck which fell into the river.

“This bridge is very important to us because this is the only road to and out of our community and it leads to the oilfields across Ogbia land and it is here that oil was first discovered in the whole West African region.

“Our people rely on the bridge to convey our agricultural produce to the state capital as well as other economic activities so you can see that the bridge is strategic to us all.

“We appeal to the state and federal government and Shell to swing to action immediately because we have not alternative.” Jacobs said

It was also gathered that the bridge was constructed in 1986 by Shell Petroleum Development Company to gain access to its oilfields in the area. (NAN)