KANO, Nigeria, April 23, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Ten people were killed and more
than 30 injured when a policeman rammed his car into a group of children
during an Easter procession in northeast Nigeria, before being killed himself
by the angry crowd, witnesses and police sources told AFP Monday.
The deadly incident happened late Sunday when the off-duty policeman
ploughed his car into a procession celebrating Easter in Gombe, state police
spokeswoman Mary Mallum said.
“Ten people were killed, including the policeman and a paramilitary member
who was with him,” Mallum said.
“We learnt the policeman and his friend who were not in uniform were
attacked and killed by the angry crowd,” she said.
“Another 30 children were injured and are currently in hospital while the
investigation is ongoing,” Mallum said.
According to witnesses at the scene contacted by AFP, the driver
deliberately drove the car into the crowd following an altercation over the
procession blocking the road.
“The driver of the car had a heated argument with the children before they
made way for him to pass, only for him, in a fit of rage, to turn and drive
into them,” said Isaac Kwadang, head of the Boys Brigade in Gombe.
“He did it on purpose,” Kwadang said.
Religious processions are common by Christian and Muslim adherents during
festivities and religious observances in Nigeria in which roads are blocked,
causing traffic chaos.
In December 2016 at least 13 Muslim school children were killed when a bus
skidded off the road and rammed into a procession marking the birthday of
Prophet Mohammed in Malam Side village, 20 kilometres from Gombe.