Tuesday, April 22, 2025 - Five people have d!ed while eight others sustained injuries when a truck rammed into a procession of Christian faithful celebrating Easter in a fatal road accident in the Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The accident occurred on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, as
the celebrants were returning from a mountain climb held to symbolise the
meeting with Jesus Christ in Galilee.
"As the people, mostly youths and children, were
descending from the mountain, a truck loaded with grains heading towards Gombe
ploughed into them, crushing many to d3ath," an eyewitness said.
It was gathered that the incident sparked outrage, with
youths setting the truck ablaze and storming the Divisional Police
Headquarters, demanding the release of the driver.
The spokesperson of the State Police Command, DSP Buhari
Abdullahi, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said persons, including
two males and three females, were confirmed d3ad by medical personnel.
“The Gombe State Police Command wishes to inform the general
public of a tragic incident that occurred today, 21st April, 2025, in Billiri
Local Government Area involving a heavy-duty Truck. A trailer truck
transporting grains coming along Yola Road to Gombe lost control due to brake
failure while approaching a gathering of Christian faithful who were on
procession to celebrate the Easter season in Billiri town,” the statement
read.
"The vehicle veered off the road and tragically ran
into the crowd, including some Muslim residents who were observing from the
roadside. Police operatives from Billiri Division swiftly responded to the
distress, providing immediate rescue efforts and conveying the injured victims
to the nearest hospital for emergency medical attention.
"Regrettably, five (5) persons which include two male
and three female were confirmed dead by medical personnel, while eight others
are currently receiving treatment and responding positively at Federal Teaching
Hospital Gombe and General hospital Billiri.
"In the aftermath of the incident, some aggrieved
youths in the area set the vehicle ablaze, looted some people shops and
subsequently marched to the Billiri Divisional Police Headquarters. In an
attempt to express their anger, the youths began to throw stones and other
dangerous objects at the officers on duty. The Divisional Police Officer and
several other police personnel sustained varying degrees of injuries during the
unrest.
"However, the driver has been Rescued, eight Suspects
arrested for attacking and attempting to burnt down Billiri Police Division and
Normalcy has been restored.
"The Command condemns the act of lawlessness and urges
residents to remain calm and allow the law to take its course. Investigations
are currently ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the
incident.
"The Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command, CP
Bello Yahaya psc+, commiserates with the families of the deceased and prays for
the quick recovery of the injured.
“He also
assures the public that adequate security measures have been put in place in
the area to forestall any further breakdown of law and order. Members of the
public are urged to remain law-abiding, avoid taking the law into their hands,
and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.”
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