No fewer than 22 persons have been injured after a car rammed into a Christian procession in Tumfure, Gombe State.
The incident was confirmed by the Gombe State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Buhari Abdullahi, on Wednesday, December 25, 2024.
Abdullahi stated that no death was recorded in the incident, adding that those injured were receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) and Specialist Hospital in Gombe.
He noted that the incident occurred at about 2 p.m. when Christians from Tumfure community, while on a procession, escorted by a team of policemen, were on their way to the Emir’s Palace and Government House.
The police spokesman said: “Suddenly, a Sharon bus loaded with bags of rice and driven by a yet-to-be-identified person lost control and rammed into the procession.
“The incident led to 22 persons being injured but no loss of life.”
Abdullahi further stated that the vehicle was burnt by angry mob, while the driver escaped to an unknown destination.
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He noted that efforts were being made by the command to arrest the driver.
However, the procession leader, Shamsuddeen Kachalla, told newsmen at the Specialist Hospital, where some injured persons were being treated, that efforts were made to flag down the vehicle to no avail.
Kachalla, a member of the Boys’ Brigade in Gombe, said more than 22 people were injured.
He said: “I have confirmed that 40 persons were injured and receiving treatment – 12 in FTH and 28 here at the Specialist Hospital.
“This procession has been going on for years and for the first time, we are encountering such an incident.
“I don’t know what happened whether the driver lost control but he chose to hit the people on procession, instead of the vehicles before him.”
Meanwhile, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya has commiserated with the victims of the accident, urging the youths to remain calm.
Yahaya commiserated with the victims when he received the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Gombe State chapter, on a Christmas homage to him at the Government House in Gombe.
He also urged Christian faithful to live peacefully with their Muslim neighbours.
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