By Emmanuel Kwada
A joyous Easter celebration turned into a scene of unimaginable tragedy on Monday, April 21, 2025, as a truck veered out of control and plowed into a procession of Christian worshippers in Billiri Local Government Area, leaving five dead and several others injured.
The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the devastating incident, which occurred along Tashan Gona, shattering a community gathered in faith.
Police Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Buhari, in a statement to Tgnews, detailed the grim toll: “We recorded an accident at Billiri Local Government after a truck conveying goods from parts of Taraba lost control in Billiri.
Many of those affected are youths and children. The scene is an eyesore; some of the victims died on the spot, and others were rushed to the hospital
Five persons have been confirmed dead, while others who are injured are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.” The truck, reportedly an articulated vehicle loaded with goods, careened into the crowd as they returned from a mountain prayer gathering, a cherished Easter tradition.
Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene of chaos and carnage. “Many of those affected are youths and children. The scene is an eyesore; some of the victims died on the spot, and others were rushed to the hospital,” one witness recounted to Tgnews.
Several victims were reportedly crushed beyond recognition, with the impact claiming lives instantly. The injured, some in critical condition, were swiftly transported to nearby medical facilities for urgent care.
The tragedy sparked outrage among locals, with irate youths setting the truck ablaze after the driver fled the scene and sought refuge at the Billiri police station. “The driver managed to escape into the police station,” the eyewitness added, highlighting the tension that gripped the area in the aftermath.
The fleeing driver’s actions only fueled the anger of a grieving community, already reeling from the sudden loss of loved ones.
Details surrounding the cause of the accident remain under investigation, though early reports suggest the truck lost control, possibly due to mechanical failure or driver error.
The incident has left Billiri—a town known for its vibrant community spirit—cloaked in sorrow, with families now mourning the untimely deaths of children and youths who had gathered to celebrate a day of hope and renewal.
