Van kills 12 children in Gombe Maulud procession

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 Islamiyya 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 ofmilitary personnel and Mobile Police Rapid Response Unit hasrestored 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, toldDaily Trustthat 24 injured victims were brought to the hospital. He said 12 of them whowere 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, heonly 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 whenthe 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.

Daily Trust 


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