TEXT OF JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE BILLIRI EASTER TRAGEDY HELD BY THE TANGALE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (TCDA), KWAGAM TANGLE SOCIO-CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (KTSCA) AND TANGALE COMMUNITY OVERSEAS (TCO) ON WEDNESDAY 23RD APRIL, 2025 IN BILLIRI, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA. READ BY COMRADE DANLADI BAKO, TCDA NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Gentlemen of the press.
We find it necessary to call on you to debunk the widespread misinformation and disinformation by the Nigeria Police on the Billiri Easter tragedy, and to set the record straight. At the end, we will provide you with pictures, videos, victims and eyewitnesses so you can review, interview and independently come to a conclusion on what transpired.
We acknowledge the Gombe State Government’s offer to help pay the hospital bills and the costs of the funerals of the victims. Still, we also remind Governor Inuwa Yahaya that the twenty-one patients currently in the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe were first transported to the General Hospital in Billiri, where neither personnel on duty nor any first-aid kit, including syringes and a drip were available. We are very much aware that the same governor who displays compassion after the wanton loss of lives is the one who is responsible for the maintenance and sustenance of the hospital. Sixteen months ago, Tangale indigenes offered medical supplies for use at the Billiri General Hospital, but were rejected on the governor’s directive. We have documented evidence on that.
As for the laughable statement from the police, we have the following observations. Considering video evidence that contradicts the police statement, we hereby submit that their bias against the victims is clear. First, the statement insinuated that the truck veered off the road due to a brake failure. This lie was the crux of the press release by the Gombe State Police Command, via the PRO. On the contrary, Video evidence shows otherwise. the vehicle drove straight into the unsuspecting celebrants from behind them. The driver was inside the truck, the driver did not tap on his horn to draw attention, and the vehicle came to a complete stop on the main road after mauling the victims.
Secondly, the statement by the police states that “The vehicle …tragically ran into the crowd, including some Muslim residents who were observing from the roadside,” is a blatant lie aimed at creating acrimony between Christians and Muslims. No Muslim was affected in this incident. The vehicle ran into the people on procession. There are pictures and videos that shows what actually happened.
Thirdly, questions regarding the culpability of the police must be addressed. The Easter Monday Procession is an annual event in Billiri town; despite that fact, each year the police division in Billiri is notified about the event – this year was not different. So, we ask, where were the police officers on traffic watch? Why did the police at the state and zonal levels repeat the same statement about mechanical/brake failure before conducting any investigation? How did the police know it had anything to do with brakes? If the police want to explore, we will provide video evidence which counter their position (some videos have already gone viral on social media). Please, stop treating us as fools.
After our findings, this is what transpired;
- As observed annually, Christians in Billiri LGA went to the Easter Prayer Ground (on a hill off Yola Road, outskirt of Billiri town) in the early hours of Monday 21st April 2025 to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- At about 7:30 am, while coming down from the hill singing and dancing as usual, a truck (trailer) loaded with grains came towards the direction of the Christians who were in the procession. The driver was warned by slow-moving individuals in the procession march; they waved their hands asking him to slow down and honk so he could be allowed space to pass. He initially slowed down, but later increased his speed as he moved closer to a denser group of people in the procession march (near Tashan Gona), running into them without horn or warning, killing and injuring them.
It should be noted, before the incident, dozens of vehicles including cars and trucks had passed through, in each case, the procession provided space for the vehicles to pass.
- Soon after stopping his truck, the driver ran towards the police who were close by watching the incident but did not render any assistance to the victims. The policemen quickly assisted the driver into their vehicle and drove away, leaving victims lying down, including some of the bodies trapped under the loaded truck.
- It should also be noted, prior to the truck incident, at about 6:30 am, a vehicle had also run into a man and his daughter who were on a motorcycle, near the gate of Federal Government College, Billiri; they were coming from the Easter Monday Prayer Service. The daughter sustained injuries and her dad took her for medical attention.
It is bad enough that the tragedy took place regardless of the motive of the driver, but the police statement added salt to the injury and is a blatant spite in our faces.
We therefore call for the following;
(i) The Gombe State Police Command to immediately retract their statement on this matter and correct the misinformation and disinformation contained in it.
(ii) The Federal Government to consider installation of speed breakers on the Gombe-Yola highway (in Billiri town), as it was, prior to the reconstruction of the road, for a safer human activity.
(iii) The people arrested be released with immediate effect, and ongoing arrests be stopped forthwith. Their reactionary protest and pelting of stones were out of passion against the action of the police; they are not criminals. While we do not condone any violence and call on our youths to always respect the rule of law; we believe the police acted in disregard for the rule of law.
While we mourn the loss of five lives and stand with the 21 injured, we urge everyone to remain calm. No one should take the law into their own hands.
In view of this development, and the commencement of burial today, we declare a 14-day mourning period in Tangale land, starting from tomorrow. To this end, we call on all Tangale sons and daughters to suspend all forms of celebrations and merriment until the mourning period is over. Additionally, we request all Tangale sons and daughters at home and in diaspora to observe three days of prayers and fasting, starting this Friday to seek the face of God for intervention in the affairs of Tangale. As the scripture states, ‘Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord.’ We trust that our living God will act accordingly, at the right time, against all injustices faced by the Tangale people.
Thank you.
