By Suleiman Ibrahim
Heartbreaking photographs have surfaced, revealing the identities of individuals tragically killed or injured during an Easter procession in Gombe State. A truck, alleged by eyewitnesses to be involved in a deliberate act, plowed into the Christian worshippers, leaving a community in mourning and raising serious questions about the incident.
Initial reports confirmed the deaths of five people – four women and one man – in the wake of the tragedy. As families shared poignant images of their lost loved ones and those recovering from injuries, a stark contrast emerged between the official narrative and the accounts of those who witnessed the horrific event.
Eyewitnesses vehemently dispute the police’s assertion that the Easter Monday incident was a mere accident. They allege that the truck’s intrusion into the peaceful procession was a calculated act intended to sow fear and disrupt future religious observances.
While authorities initially reported the incident as a truck carrying goods veering off course, the emergence of a disturbing video and numerous eyewitness testimonies have fueled suspicions. Calls for a thorough and impartial investigation are now intensifying.
Yusuff Haskee, former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth Wing) in Gombe State, minced no words, stating unequivocally, “This is a long-standing tradition… We always inform security agencies well in advance. So, where were they when this happened? This wasn’t a brake failure — it was a calculated act of intimidation against Christians.” Haskee further revealed his public challenge to the police’s account during a live radio broadcast.
Another eyewitness, Usman, echoed these sentiments, questioning the driver’s silence in the moments leading up to the impact. “If the driver lost control, did he also lose the ability to honk? Why didn’t he warn the crowd? The truck came silently from behind — no horn, no signal — just straight into the people. Then it stopped on its own, just ten meters ahead. That’s not an accident. That’s evil.”
Madeline, a young survivor who narrowly escaped the carnage, recounted her terrifying experience with tears. “When I turned back, it looked like a horror movie — people were screaming, crushed bodies everywhere. That truck rolled over my fellow worshippers like they were nothing.”
Usman corroborated reports of five fatalities, including four women.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Gombe State authorities, through Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s spokesperson, Samaila Uba Misili, announced that the government would cover all medical expenses for the 20 individuals who sustained injuries. However, this gesture of support does little to quell the growing demand for a transparent and credible investigation into the true circumstances surrounding this devastating event. The community awaits answers as they grapple with loss and the unsettling suspicion that this was not merely an accident, but a deliberate act of violence.
