There was pandemonium in Billiri local government area of Gombe State as a driver of a heavy-duty truck popularly known as ‘trailer’ on Monday lost control and ran into some Christians celebrating Easter.
It was gathered that the truck which was transporting grains from Adamawa State to Gombe State lost control as a result of brake failure while approaching a gathering of Christians faithful who were on procession to celebrate the Easter Monday in Billiri town.
The incident, our correspondent reports, led to the truck hitting the crowd of the celebrants where five of died and eight others sustained various degrees of injuries.
However, the fatal accident triggered a riot as some aggrieved youth in the area reacted violently by burning the truck with the goods it was carrying just as they attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in the area and injured several officers on duty including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) through hurling stones and other dangerous objects at them with a view to vent their anger over the awful incident.
Spokesperson of the Gombe State Police Command, Buhari Abdullahi, confirmed the incident in a press statement.
He identified the deceased persons to include three females and two males while noting that others who survived with injuries were receiving treatment at General Hospital, Billiri and Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, respectively.
According to him, some Muslims youths observing the procession were also affected by the accident.
“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.
“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 Police spokesman stated.
This is even as he also assured the public that adequate security measures have been put in place in the area to forestall any further breakdown of law and order.
LEADERSHIP recalls that a similar incident occurred during the last Christmas celebration in Gombe State capital, where a commercial Sharon bus lost control and hit Christian youths staging procession, injuring about 22 persons.
