The Gombe State Police command reported that five people died and another eight were injured when a truck that transported grains that are coming through Yola Road to Gombe lost control due to the failure of the brake while approaching a meeting of Christian faithful in a procession to celebrate Easter in the city of Billiri.
Police Public Relations officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, in a statement revealed this on Monday, indicating that the vehicle deviated from the road and tragically ran into the crowd, including some Muslim residents who watched from the road.
“Police agents of the Billiri division quickly responded to anguish, providing immediate rescue efforts and transmitting to victims injured to the nearest hospital for emergency medical care.
“Unfortunately, five (5) people who include two men and three women were confirmed by medical staff, while another eight (8) others receive treatment and respond positively at the Federal Hospital of Teaching Gombe and General Billiri Hospital,” he said.
According to the PPRO, after the incident, some young people harmed in the area set on the vehicle burned, they looted some people's stores and subsequently marched to the Billiri division police headquarters.
“In an attempt to express their anger, young people began to throw stones and other dangerous objects to service officers.
“The division police officer and several other police personnel suffered various degrees of injuries during the disturbances.
“However, the driver has been rescued, eight (8) suspects arrested for attacking and trying to burn the Billiri Police division and normality has been restored,” he added.
The command through its spokesman condemned the act of illegality and urged residents to keep calm and allow the law to take its course, since the investigations are currently in progress to determine the complete circumstances surrounding the incident.
The police commissioner, Gombe State Command, CP Bello Yahaya, who was sympathizing with the families of the deceased and prayed for the rapid recovery of the injured, also assured the public that adequate security measures have been implemented in the area to avoid any additional breakdown of the law and order.