Over 22 injured as driver plows into Christmas procession in Gombe

At least 22 people sustained injuries on Christmas Day in Gombe State when a commercial bus driver lost control and rammed into a procession of Christian faithful.

The incident, which occurred around 2:00 PM, disrupted the celebratory procession as participants moved from the Tumfure community to the Government House and Gombe Emir’s Palace to pay homage.

According to the Gombe State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Buhari Abdullahi, the driver, whose identity remains unknown, was transporting bags of rice when he lost control of the vehicle, striking several celebrants.

“No life was lost,” ASP Abdullahi confirmed, adding that the injured were promptly taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe and the Specialist Hospital for treatment.

“The Gombe State Police Command urges the public to remain as the Commission of Police, Usman Hayatu, has directed the Motor Traffic Department to carryout a discreet investigation of the unfortunate incident,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Captain of Gombe Boys Brigade and leader of the procession, Shamsudeen Kachalla, said about 40 members were injured during the incident.

“In the course of our procession from Tumfure down to Old Mile 3, it was peaceful, cars were being diverted. Along the way from Orji quarters to the Federal Mortgage Bank, there was a vehicle that just came from nowhere. We tried to stop him but we couldn’t and before we knew it, the driver hit our boys.

“There were boys at the rear as I was also at the rear trying to coordinate the traffic from behind. This procession has been going on for years and for the first time, we are encountering such. There were casualties. I am still counting but so far, there are 12 victims in FTH, Gombe, and 28 at the specialist hospital, but there is no death,” he said.