No fewer than four persons have been killed in a tragic accident by a speeding truck while commemorating the Easter celebration in Gombe State.
The Gombe State Police Command reported the tragic accident in Billiri, Gombe State, in which four people died and eight were treated.
The catastrophe occurred on Easter Monday, when Christians were returning from a mountain hike commemorating Jesus Christ’s encounter in Galilee.
The police spokesperson, Buhari Abdullahi, confirmed the crash to our correspondent, saying, “Four died — two males and two females. Eight victims were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, and the General Hospital, Billiri, where they are recovering.”
An eyewitness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “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 death.”
The incident sparked outrage, with youths setting fire to the truck and storming the Divisional Police Headquarters to demand the driver’s release.
A multi-agency security force has been dispatched to prevent further escalation.
