Easter celebrations turned sour within the Gombe metropolis, after a squabble between a Civil Defense Officer and members of the State’s Boys’ Brigade on a procession to mark Easter, led to the death of ten people, leaving over thirty others hospitalised.

According to an official of the Boys’ Brigade, Solomon Ibrahim, an NSCDC official named Adamu Abubakar met the procession while passing along Alheri Junction, Biu Road, Gombe.

Ibrahim claimed that after exchanging words with the youths, Abubakar who had a friend in his car, drove past the Boys’ Brigade procession line, switched off his car’s headlight and rammed into the young persons from behind, killing eight persons on the spot.

The Boys’ Brigade official further claimed that over thirty other persons were left with various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical attention at three different hospitals.

He revealed that some other angry members of the procession lynched the two occupants of the vehicle (the NSCDC official and a friend yet to be identified).

Meanwhile, the state Deputy Governor Mr Charles Iliya, and Reverend Abare Kalla, the chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Northeast, were at the hospital and they called on the Christian community to remain calm as security operatives are on the matter.

The State Police Commissioner, Bello Makwashi, who confirmed the incident via phone, called on the public to be calm and avoid all violent acts.

He said: “As soon as I got the information, I quickly mobilised and moved to the scene, I was personally involved in evacuating the victims to the hospital, and I ensured that security was guaranteed before leaving, my cloth was completely stained with blood. The situation was bad but we are on top of the matter.” (Channels TV)

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