Truck kills four Easter mountain hikers in Gombe crash
The Gombe State Police Command on Monday confirmed a fatal road accident in Billiri, Gombe State, in which no fewer than four people died and eight others were receiving treatment.
The accident occurred on Easter Monday as Christians were returning from a mountain climb held to symbolise the meeting with Jesus Christ in Galilee.
Confirming the crash to our correspondent, the police spokesperson, Buhari Abdullahi, said, “Four died — two males and two females. Eight victims were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, and the General Hospital, Billiri, where they are recovering.”
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said, “As the people, mostly youths and children, were descending from the mountain, a truck loaded with grains heading towards Gombe ploughed into them, crushing many to death.”
The incident sparked outrage, with youths setting the truck ablaze and storming the Divisional Police Headquarters, demanding the release of the driver.
A combined team of security agencies has been deployed to prevent further escalation.