Five Dead, Eight Injured as Truck Rams into Easter Procession in Gombe State

Tragedy struck in Billiri town, Gombe State, Nigeria, on Sunday when a truck carrying grains lost control and ploughed into a crowd participating in an Easter procession, leaving five people dead and eight others injured.


The Gombe State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi. According to the statement, the accident occurred along the Yola-Gombe Road as the vehicle approached the town, where a large number of Christian faithful had gathered to commemorate the Easter celebration.

Preliminary investigations by the police indicate that the accident was caused by a mechanical failure, specifically a brake malfunction, which led the truck to veer off its lane and crash into the celebrants. Among those affected were both Christians taking part in the procession and Muslim residents who were observing the event from the roadside.

“The truck was conveying grains from the Yola axis to Gombe when it developed a brake failure,” said DSP Abdullahi. “The vehicle veered off the road and unfortunately rammed into a crowd of Christian faithful and some Muslim residents who were watching the procession. Five persons were confirmed dead at the scene, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention.”

The police spokesperson also stated that the truck driver has been taken into custody for questioning, while further investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

In response to the tragedy, security personnel have been deployed to maintain calm in the area and prevent any escalation of tension, given the multi-religious makeup of the town. Authorities have appealed to residents to remain peaceful and allow the law to take its course.

The Gombe State Government is expected to issue an official statement regarding the incident and provide support to the victims and their families.

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