At least 12 children were killed when a
pickup van ran into a procession of students marking the birthday
of Prophet Muhammad in a town in Gombe state yesterday.
The incident
happened in Malam Sidi town 20 kilometres away from Gombe, the state capital.
A
witness, who craved for anonymity, said the driver was coming from Gombe on a
high speed when he lost control and ran into the Maulud procession.
The event was
staged by hundreds of Islamiya School pupils some of whom came from
neighbouring villages.
A witness said
he counted about 20 corpses, adding that over 30 children were injured and
taken to the Cottage Hospital in Malam Sidi.
He said angry mob killed the driver and set the vehicle ablaze before
police arrived the scene.
Confirming the incident, the Gombe State Command Public Relations
Officer, DSP Ahmed Usamn, said the accident occurred at 12 noon when a driver
travelling alone in his car from Gombe to Bajoga lost control and ran into the
children procession.
DSP Usman said eight were confirmed dead and 19 others were evacuated by
the police medical team to Federal Teaching Hospital and Gombe Specialists
Hospital for treatment.
He said the police had launched an investigation into the incident and
that they were also on the trail of those that killed the driver
and burnt the car.
The police spokesman added that the combined operation of military
personnel and Mobile Police Rapid Response Unit has restored law and order and
normalcy had since returned to the town.
Meanwhile the funeral prayer for 12 of the children that lost their
lives was held around 5:00pm at the premises of the Cottage Hospital, Malam
Sidi.
The medical officer-in-charge of the Cottage Hospital, Malam Sidi,
Dr.Ibrahim Dawaki, told Daily Trust that 24 injured victims were brought
to the hospital. He said 12 of them who were critically injured had been
taken to Gombe for further medical attention.
Malam Muhammad, the father of one of the victims still receiving
treatment at the hospital, narrated to Daily Trust how he learnt about the
accident.
“My son left home in the morning with other students from his school to
join other neighbouring villages to attend the Maulud procession in Malam Sidi.
“Around 12:30pm I was at home when information reached me that my son
was involved in an accident. I quickly rushed to Malam Sidi devastated but
fortunately he is not injured, he only got some bruises,” he said.
According to Malam Muhammad Usman resident of Malam Sidi, he was at the
road side watching the procession in which his seven-year old daughter was
participating, when suddenly a car rammed into it.
“My daughter was among the children in the procession when the driver
lost control of his car and run into them. He marched many of them before he
finally packed the car and attempted to run.
“But he could not escape he was apprehended by angry mob who set both
him and the car ablaze,” Malam Usman explained.
Source:Daily Trust
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Society