By Najib Sani, Gombe
The Tangale community in Gombe State under the auspices of their social groups namely; Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), Kwagam Tangale Socio-Cultural Association (KTSCA), and Tangale Community Overseas (TCO) have blamed the absence of police and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel for the recent fatal road accident that claimed five lives and caused injuries to numerous people in Billiri local government of Gombe State on Easter Monday.
The accident occurred when a lorry driver ran into Easter procession crowd, killing and injuring the affected celebrants.
Addressing journalists yesterday in Billiri, Comrade Danladi Bako, spokesperson for the groups, expressed disappointment over the incident and criticised the police for their alleged non deployment of adequate personnel to protect the celebrants 'despite being informed'.
He also blamed the road safety personnel for allegedly being absent at the scene to control traffic and redirect moving vehicles from the place of the procession that would have prevented the tragedy.
The group disputed the police's claim that the truck's brake failure caused the incident, citing video evidence that shows the vehicle drove straight into the unsuspecting celebrants from behind.
"As observed annually, Christians in Billiri LGA went to the Easter Prayer Ground, a truck (trailer) loaded with grains came towards the direction of the Christians who were in the procession. The driver was warned by slow-moving individuals in the procession march; they waved their hands asking him to slow down and honk so he could be allowed space to pass.
"He initially slowed down, but later increased his speed as he moved closer to a denser group of people in the procession march, running into them without horn or warning, killing and injuring them."
The community has called on the State Police Command to release those arrested, and stop ongoing arrests of members of the community suspected to have taken laws into their hands after math the incident as part of measures to douse the present tension in the area following the incident.
They also demanded the installation of speed breakers on the Gombe-Yola highway especially along Billiri town to prevent accidents.
This is even as the community declared a 14-day mourning and suspension of all ceremonies including weddings in order to mourn the deceased.
"We urge everyone to remain calm. No one should take the law into their own hands," Bako appealed.
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