The African Action Congress (AAC) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately launch an independent investigation into the recent tragic truck accident in Billiri, Gombe State, where a truck rammed into an Easter procession, resulting in multiple casualties.
In a strongly-worded statement issued today by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, the AAC expressed deep concern over what it described as an attempted cover-up by local authorities and a troubling false narrative being pushed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Billiri.
“We are alarmed by reports indicating that the Billiri DPO has not only shielded the driver responsible for this horrific incident but has also disseminated misleading information in a bid to downplay the gravity of the situation,” the AAC said. “This is a gross miscarriage of justice and a slap in the face of grieving families and the entire community.”
Eyewitnesses and local residents have contradicted the official police account, asserting that the driver, who plowed into the peaceful procession, was neither under threat nor provoked as claimed in initial reports. Instead, allegations have emerged suggesting deliberate recklessness, with some reports pointing to possible intoxication or negligence.
“This tragedy is a direct result of the growing culture of impunity in our law enforcement agencies,” the party added. “We cannot continue to lose lives due to official negligence and then be subjected to lies and manipulation in the aftermath. Justice must be swift, visible, and uncompromising.”