The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed 22 persons injured after a car rammed into a Christian procession on Christmas day – yesterday, Wednesday December 25 – in Tumfure community, near Gombe, the Gombe State capital.
The command’s Spokesperson, ASP Buhari Abdullahi, who disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Gombe yesterday, said that no death was recorded in the incident, adding that those injured were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) and Specialist Hospital, Gombe for treatment.
According to the police PRO, the incident happened at about 2pm, when Christian faithful from the Tumfure community, on a procession and escorted by a team of policemen, were on their way to the Emir’s Palace and Government House.
“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,” Abdullahi said.
“The incident led to 22 persons being injured but no loss of life,” he stated.
Abdullahi further stated that the vehicle was burnt by an angry mob, while the driver escaped to an unknown destination, noting that efforts were being made by the command to pick him up.
However, the leader of the procession, Mr 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 the number of the injured persons was actually more than 22.
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,” he said.
According to a NAN correspondent, who visited the two hospitals, there were 40 injured persons.
Meanwhile, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has commiserated with the victims of the accident, urging the youths to remain calm.
The Governor expressed his grief over the incident 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, Gombe.
He further urged Christian faithful to live peacefully with their Muslim neighbours.
