TheCable

Fourteen people lost their lives in Gombe state on Thursday, as a vehicle heading to Abuja for a programme organised by the ministry of agriculture collided with the convoy of Ibrahim Dankwambo, governor of the state.

The governor’s entourage was returning from the presidential rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi when the incident happened.

The tragedy occurred around 7:00pm at Bauchi/Gombe federal highway, Alkaleri.

An official of the department of state services, who does not want to be named, told TheCable that majority of those who died in the incident were journalists.

“The vehicle of the governor had already passed and it was that of the press that was affected,” he said.

“A bus conveying people from the ministry of agriculture to Abuja for the AGRIFEST programme, which held today at Eagle Square, rammed into the convoy of the governor.

“The vehicle heading to Abuja was trying to avoid a motorcycle, which was on a high speed.”

He further said five of the deceased got burnt beyond recognition.

Haruna Mohammed, the police spokesperson, confirmed the incident, saying that a police patrol team attached to Alkaleri had visited the scene, cleared obstruction and evacuated the casualties to Federal Medical Centre, Gombe.