By Willies Ugo, Gombe
Gombe Nigeria – 21,2025
At least five people have been confirmed dead and thirteen others injured after a trailer loaded with goods rammed into a procession of Christian youths celebrating Easter in Billiri, the headquarters of Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State.
The tragic incident occurred on Monday morning and sparked immediate outrage, as angry youths blocked the Gombe-Yola highway for over an hour and set the offending vehicle ablaze.
A resident who spoke to our correspondent described the scene as chaotic, with people from neighboring villages pouring into Billiri within minutes of the incident. It reportedly took the combined efforts of the military and police to disperse the agitated crowd.
Confirming the incident, the Gombe State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Samson Kaura, stated that five individuals lost their lives and thirteen others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Speaking in a phone interview, the Acting Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Billiri, Rev. Ezra Idi, said the bodies of the deceased had been deposited in a mortuary. He also expressed concern over the arrest of many youths during the protest, noting that the leadership of CAN was holding a meeting to assess the situation before issuing an official statement.
The unrest took a more violent turn when the protesting youths marched to the Billiri Divisional Police Headquarters, where they reportedly threw stones and other dangerous objects at officers. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, several officers, including the Divisional Police Officer, sustained injuries in the attack.
“The Command condemns this act of lawlessness and urges residents to remain calm and allow the law to take its course,” the police spokesperson stated.
He added that investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the incident and to ascertain the number of arrests made.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Yahaya, has commiserated with the families of the deceased and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured. He also assured the public that adequate security measures have been put in place in the area to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
Residents have been advised to remain law-abiding and to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
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