Explainer: Gombe Easter Truck Attack Raises Familiar Fears; Was It Really an Accident?
BY: Mustapha Lawal
On April 22, 2025, a post by the X (formerly Twitter) user @OurFavOnlineDoc went viral, claiming that a deliberate terrorist attack had occurred during an Easter procession in Gombe State, Nigeria.
The post included a disturbing video of a truck ramming into a Christian procession, with the caption: “This is Gombe state. Christians were peacefully doing an Easter procession yesterday and a barbaric terrorist drove a speeding truck right into the Christian crowd killing and injuring many people. This was just yesterday in Gombe. WHY IS EVERYONE QUIET?”
A similar narrative was shared by @ZariyiYusufu who described the attack as a continuation of a disturbing pattern in Gombe where Christian processions are repeatedly targeted during religious holidays.
The video in question shows a chaotic scene: a truck crashes into a group of Easter celebrants, leading to fatalities and injuries. But was this truly a planned terror attack, or a tragic accident as authorities insist?
What Happened?
The incident occurred on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, in Billiri, Gombe State. A truck transporting grains allegedly ploughed into a Christian procession, killing five people and injuring at least 13 others. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) blamed the crash on excessive speeding, while the police suggested brake failure.
However, multiple eyewitnesses disputed the official explanation. Yusuff Haskee, former chairman of the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Gombe, told Sahara Reporters that the tragedy was no accident: “This wasn’t a brake failure , it was a calculated act of intimidation against Christians… We always inform security agencies well in advance. So, where were they when this happened?”
Other survivors echoed similar sentiments. One witness, Usman, questioned why the driver didn’t sound his horn if there had truly been brake failure. “The truck came silently from behind, no horn, no signal, just straight into the people. Then it stopped on its own, just ten meters ahead. That’s not an accident. That’s evil,” he said.
Following the incident, angered youths reportedly set the truck ablaze and vandalised a police station in Billiri. The driver was reportedly arrested and is under investigation. Governor Inuwa Yahaya also ordered a formal probe and pledged that the state would cover all medical expenses for the victims. The Christian community, led by local CAN representatives, has called for an independent probe, citing a pattern of systemic neglect and cover-up.
Background & Context
Nigeria has faced years of religious tension and violence, particularly in the north-central and northeast regions. According to the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), more than 62,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since 2000. Against this backdrop, any violent incident involving a Christian gathering, especially when repeated, is bound to provoke scrutiny.
This incident is not the first of its kind in Gombe State. As TheCable noted in a detailed report titled “Coincidence? Three times trucks have rammed into Christian processions in Gombe,” similar crashes occurred during Christian holidays in 2019 and 2024:
- Easter 2019: A security officer reportedly turned off his vehicle’s lights and intentionally rammed into a Boys Brigade procession, killing 8–11 children. This incident was widely reported as a deliberate attack, prompting widespread unrest and a curfew in the state.
- Christmas 2024: A minibus loaded with rice drove into a Christmas procession in Tumfure, injuring up to 65 people. Authorities blamed the crash on brake failure, but CAN and eyewitnesses claimed it was deliberate.
- Easter 2025: Now, the third major crash during a Christian procession in six years has deepened suspicions that these incidents may not be coincidental.
Despite these repeated tragedies, government and police narratives have consistently downplayed intent, citing mechanical failure or road mishaps. However, the repeated timing; during religious observances, and the responses from victims’ families and Christian leaders continue to fuel distrust.
What Do We Know So Far?
- Claim: A truck intentionally rammed into a Christian Easter procession in Gombe on April 21, 2025.
- Official stance: FRSC cited speeding; police claimed brake failure.
- Eyewitness account: Multiple victims and community leaders insist it was a targeted attack.
- Historical context: At least two similar incidents have occurred in Gombe during Christian celebrations in 2019 and 2024.
- Status of investigation: Ongoing; the driver has reportedly been arrested and is under investigation.
Conclusion
While the viral claims of a deliberate attack in Gombe align with a concerning pattern, no independent investigation has yet confirmed intent behind the April 2025 crash. Official narratives describe it as an accident, while multiple eyewitnesses and Christian leaders insist otherwise. The repeated occurrence of such incidents during religious processions makes it essential for authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent probe.
