No fewer than 22 persons sustained injuries on Wednesday when a vehicle rammed into a Christmas procession in the Tumfure area of Gombe State.
The Gombe State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement by its spokesperson, Buhari Abdullahi, who said the crash occurred around 2 p.m. along Bauchi Road.
According to Abdullahi, a Volkswagen Sharon vehicle, reportedly loaded with bags of rice, veered off the road and ploughed into Christian faithful participating in the procession.
The group, escorted by policemen, was on its way to pay Christmas homage at the Emir of Gombe’s palace and the Government House when the tragedy struck.
“The driver of the vehicle, whose identity remains unknown, lost control and hit the crowd before fleeing the scene,” Abdullahi said.
He added that the vehicle was set ablaze by an angry mob shortly after the accident, while security operatives worked to restore order.
“There was no loss of life, but about 22 people sustained varying degrees of injuries. The victims have been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, and the Specialist Hospital for treatment,” Abdullahi said.
The police spokesperson also noted that a combined team of security operatives and leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were present to ensure calm and maintain order in the aftermath of the incident.
“The commissioner of police has directed the motor traffic department to conduct a thorough investigation into the unfortunate incident.
“The command also urges the good people of Gombe State to remain calm as efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest the fleeing driver,” the statement added.
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