Two people were k!lled and 32 others sustained injuries after a vehicle rammed into worshippers during a congregational prayer in Yobe State.
The incident occurred at the JIBWIS Juma’at Mosque along the Kano–Maiduguri highway in Damagum, headquarters of Fune Local Government Area of the State.
The Deputy Governor, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, on Monday, May 4, expressed sympathy with the families of the deceased and those injured.
He expressed the feeling at the palace of the Emir of Damagum when he led a government delegation to condole with the bereaved families, injured victims and the emirate over the incident.
He explained that preliminary investigations revealed that a commercial passenger bus, travelling at excessive speed, lost control and crashed into the worshippers observing Juma’at prayers.
“We are here on behalf of Governor Mai Mala Buni and the Yobe State Government over the unfortunate incident that occurred on Friday, in which two people lost their lives while 32 others sustained injuries,” he said.
“The incident triggered momentary civil unrest, as some youths and worshippers set the vehicle ablaze, reducing it to ashes. This prompted the swift deployment of security operatives to restore normalcy and secure the crash site.
“This tragedy raises concerns over reckless driving in Damagum, particularly habitual over-speeding by commercial drivers, which continues to claim lives.”
The Deputy Governor added that the state government had donated the sum of N2 million to the families of the deceased and the injured victims as support, in addition to providing free medical treatment to all those affected.
He further noted that the government would consider introducing strategic road safety measures along highways passing through Damagum to reduce such incidents.
“I want to assure you that this will not happen again. The state government under Governor Mai Mala Buni has taken steps to prevent a recurrence of this unfortunate incident,” he said.
Gubana also called on Islamic scholars and community leaders to sensitise their followers, especially youths, against observing prayers on highways.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to Islamic scholars and community leaders to educate our youths to stop praying on highways and roads. These roads are meant strictly for vehicular movement, and praying on them, especially on Fridays, endangers lives.
“Islam has exempted travellers from observing Juma’at prayers. Forcing travellers, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to halt their journeys until prayers are concluded is a violation of their rights, which the state government will not tolerate.
“The solution is to stop congregational prayers on highways and ensure these roads remain accessible to commuters. We are also calling on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agencies to address over-speeding along the Kano–Maiduguri highway,” he added.
In his response, the Emir of Fune, His Royal Highness Alhaji Saleh Idriss Ibn Usman, expressed gratitude to the state government for the visit and support extended to the victims and the emirate.
The Emir also appealed to the government to construct roundabouts in Damagum, as well as speed control measures such as road bumps in Ngelzarma and Dogon Kuka, to help reduce excessive speeding by motorists along the route.
