There is a palpable tension now in Gombe following the death of no fewer than eleven persons including a Policeman and an NSCDC officer after a car rammed into a procession of Christian youths (mostly Boys Brigade members) who were on an Easter rally on Sunday night in Gombe town, just as many were wounded and are now receiving treatment at various locations.
Our correspondent gathered in the early hours of Monday that the youths were on their usual Easter rally in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave when the unidentified NSCDC and his Police friend came across them during the procession at Alheri Junction, Biu Road, Gombe.
Chairman of the Gombe State Battalion Brigade of the Boys Brigade (BB), Isaac Kwadang told reporters that he received information about the incident around 11:30 pm Sunday night.
According to him, the Civil Defense officer, though not on official duty, met the procession while passing by and after exchanging words with the youths, he passed by them but allegedly off his car’s full light and rammed into them from behind killing eight of the boys on the spot.
He stated further that the youths chased the security officers, caught them and mobbed them to death adding that though it was not easy calming the youths down, they are still prevailing on the youths against further confrontation.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Gombe State Specialist Hospital, Dr Shuaibu Muazu confirmed that some dead bodies from the incident have been deposited in the hospital mortuary.
The Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Godwin Omuko, confirmed the incident to newsmen on phone and said his men were among those that brought the dead bodies to the hospital.
When contracted the Gombe Police Command PPRO, SP Mary Obed Malum confirmed the incidence saying that, “yes there was an accident yesterday and 10 people are confirmed dead while 30 were wounded”.
She added that investigation into the remote and immediate cause of the accident is ongoing assuring that further information will be made public as soon as possible.
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