Tragedy struck in Gombe State on Wednesday when a Sharon vehicle, heavily loaded with bags of rice, lost control and plowed into a Christian procession from the Tumfure community.
The harrowing incident unfolded along the Bauchi Road, near the Women’s Centre, opposite Orji Estate, on the Gombe-Bauchi expressway.
Our correspondent on the scene reported that the Christian faithful were participating in their annual tradition of paying homage to the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, and Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
The peaceful procession was suddenly thrown into chaos as the out-of-control vehicle barrelled into the crowd.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and confusion, with many fearing for their lives. While some accounts suggest there were fatalities, the Gombe State Police Command has yet to confirm the exact number of casualties.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, stated that the injured were swiftly transported to the State Specialist Hospital and the Federal Teaching Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Abdullahi reassured the public that the incident was accidental, not a deliberate attack. He stressed that efforts were underway to apprehend the driver, who fled the scene.
The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the accident and ensure justice was served.
The Gombe State Police Command called for calm, urging residents to remain peaceful as authorities manage the aftermath of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Gombe State is working to maintain peace and order within the community.
