Corps carrying youths brave the perilous journey over River Mungo Mombo hanging bridge.
Village youths from Ekona Mombo ,BAJOH in Kupemuanenguba few weeks ago carried a coffin on foot from over the Mombo hanging bridge due to the absence of road access.
The journey took about four hours. Villagers crossed rivers, climbed steep mountains, and walked through rough terrain before reaching the village.
Villagers said the lack of a proper road makes it difficult to transport the sick, the elderly, and the deceased.
The corpse of Mr Ewangnjikang Emmanuel was ferried across the river at Mombo Bajoh by a group of determined youths from Ekona-Mombo Bajoh, risking their lives to ensure he could be returned to his family and given a dignified burial.
Eyewitnesses say the crossing was perilous. With no bridge and rising evening currents, the youths crossed the hanging bridge to transport Mr Ewangnjikang’s body.
For communities along the River Mongo also known locally as the Mungo River this kind of danger is not new.
During rainy months, the river cuts off access to markets, schools, and healthcare, forcing residents to choose between isolation and risk.
*A Community’s Burden, A Community’s Courage
The young men who carried out the corps transportation are being hailed for their courage. “These are our sons, putting their lives on the line because there is no other way,” said a community elder who watched from the riverbank.
“Today it was Mr Ewangnjikang. Tomorrow it could be a sick child or a pregnant woman. We cannot keep living like this.”
The incident underscores a long-standing infrastructure gap in the Ekona-Mombo Bajoh axis. Residents have repeatedly appealed for a footbridge or ferry service to safely link communities separated by the Mongo/Mungo River.
*“Mother Theresa” Professor Betty Best Mesame Mwene comes to the rescue.
Amid the grief, locals expressed deep gratitude to Professor Betty Best Mesame Mwene, who they say intervened to support the bereaved family and assist the youths.
Affectionately called “our Mother Theresa” by many in the area, Prof. Mesame Mwene has a track record of philanthropic work across the South-West Region, particularly in education, health outreach, and rural infrastructure development.
“She came in time to bail them out of the stalemate,” one youth volunteer said.
“We hail you, Professor Betty Best Mesame Mwene, for standing with us when it matters most.”
The youths recalled that the community recently received over 2million fcfa support from Professor Betty Best for repair works ongoing in the Mombo Bridge. The same financial support came from her for road extention into some Bajoh villages as well as the payment of part time teachers in the lone government secondary school in the area.
The youths express the wish to see their development oriented mother and sister represent KupeMuanenguba in Parliament next legislative election.
“ These are the type of elite we want to see as KupeMuanenguba representative in parliament. We are ready to give her our support,” the youths said.
Though details of the assistance were not disclosed, community members say her intervention helped cover funeral arrangements and provided material support to the young men involved in the crossing.
A Call Beyond Condolence
The enclaved Ekona-Mombo community is also asking for more than sympathy. They want lasting solutions, a safe, permanent crossing bridge over River Mongo so that no other family must risk lives to bring their dead home.
The courage of these youths and the compassion shown by Prof. Mesame Mwene remain, indelible.
The question now is whether this tragedy will finally move authorities to act.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS
Community efforts through the BANGEM DEVELOPMENT Organization FORUM( BDOF) to repair the depreciating hanging bridge are afoot.
According to BDOF President Commissioner Ebong Bao Ewohbawunkem Joseph, contributions by some well wishers of KupeMuanenguba are ongoing to support the repair work being carried out by BDOF and the people of Mombo.
“ We are appealing to the people of KupeMuanenguba and other well wishers to join us by contributing financially in this community development project to help this enclaved community find a solution to their transportation woes,” Ebong Bao told ECO OUTLOOK.
The repair works is in progress he assured.
Ongoing BDOF-led community repair works at the Mombo Hanging Bridge.
