By The Tangale community in Gombe State has declared a 14-day mourning period in Billiri town to honour the five victims who lost their lives during an Easter Monday procession.
The announcement was made by the Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), Kwagam Tangale Socio-Cultural Association (KTSCA), and Tangale Community Overseas (TCO)—the main social and cultural arms of the ethnic group.
The tragedy occurred when a truck rammed into a crowd of worshippers during a symbolic Easter procession, killing five instantly and leaving several others injured.
Speaking to journalists in Billiri, group spokesperson Comrade Danladi Bako described the incident as a heartbreaking loss for the entire community. As a mark of respect, all social events, including wedding ceremonies, have been suspended for the mourning period.
“This is a moment of deep pain. We are suspending all ceremonies in honour of our departed brothers and sisters,” Bako said.
He also blamed security and safety agencies for their alleged negligence, noting that the police were not adequately deployed to protect the procession, even though prior notice was reportedly given.
Bako further criticised the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for failing to provide traffic control, which, he claimed, could have prevented the incident.
“Had the police and FRSC done their part, this tragedy could have been avoided,” he said.
The community is now demanding accountability and better safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
