News
Driver loses control as bus runs into Christmas procession, injures 22
A Sharon 7-seater mini-bus lost control and crashed into a procession of Christians on their way to the Government House and the Emir of Gombe’s Palace for the traditional Christmas homage on Wednesday.
Although no lives were lost at the scene, several people sustained injuries and were rushed to various hospitals for immediate medical attention.
An eyewitness reported that the Christians had just concluded Christmas services at their respective churches in Tunfure and had gathered to begin the procession, singing praises and drumming in high spirits.
The eyewitness, who narrowly escaped the crash, narrated that the vehicle unexpectedly plowed into the crowd from behind.
Efforts to get an official statement from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Gombe were unsuccessful, as the Public Education and Enlightenment Officer, Janet Kassa, could not be reached, nor did she respond to messages sent via WhatsApp and SMS at the time of this report.
However, the Gombe State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating: “Today, Wednesday, 25th December 2024, at about 1400hrs, Christian faithful from the Tunfure community, while on procession escorted by teams of policemen along Bauchi Road, were on their way to the Emir’s Palace and Government House.”
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Buhari Abdullahi, “A Sharon vehicle loaded with bags of rice, with registration number yet to be identified and driven by an unknown individual, lost control and crashed into the procession, injuring at least 22 people. Thankfully, no lives were lost.”
He added, “The victims were evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) for medical attention.”
ASP Buhari also disclosed that the vehicle was set ablaze by an angry mob, while the driver fled to an unknown location. Efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest the driver for further investigation.
Combined teams of police officers, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, along with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, are actively managing the situation to maintain calm.
The Gombe State Police Command urged residents to remain calm, as the Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, has directed a thorough investigation into the unfortunate incident.
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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