At least 20 people, mostly children, have lost their lives in a fatal auto crash that occurred in Billiri, the headquarters of Billiri LGA in Gombe State.
Apart from those who died, several others sustained varied degrees of injury and are receiving medical attention at health facilities in Billiri.
Reports indicate that the crash occurred about 8:00 am on Easter Monday when Christians were returning home from a mountain,-top prayer session, symbolic of the meeting with Jesus in Galilee a day after his resurrection.
A witness said that as the people, mostly youths and children, were descending from the mountain, a truck loaded with grains heading towards Gombe rammed into them, crushing at least 20.
It was also gathered that, in retaliation, youths in the town set the truck ablaze and stormed the Divisional Police headquarters, demanding the release of the driver, who was believed to be in police custody.
A combined team of police, military, and other security agencies has been mobilised to prevent the situation from escalating further.
When contacted, the State Commands of the Nigeria Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps declined to provide additional details but confirmed that the crash occurred. .
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