There was pandemonium in the Billiri local government area of Gombe State as a driver of a heavy-duty truck popularly known as ‘trailer’ on Monday lost control, ran into some Christians on the street, celebrating Easter.
It was said that the trailer transporting grains from Adamawa State 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 incident, our correspondent reports, led to the truck hitting the crowd of the celebrants, where five of them were killed, even as eight others sustained various forms of injuries.
The fatal accident triggered a riot as some aggrieved youth in the area reacted violently by reportedly burning the trailer 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) by hurling stones and other dangerous objects at them with a view to venting 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 received treatment at the General Hospital, Billiri and the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, respectively.
According to him, some Muslim 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 ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” he stated.
This is even as he assured the public that adequate security measures have been put in place to forestall any further breakdown of law and order.
LEADERSHIP reports that a similar event occurred during the last Christmas celebration in Gombe State capital, where a Sharon bus lost control and hit Christian youths staging a procession, injuring about 22 persons.
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