A devastating terrorist attack has rocked Gombe State, where a driver deliberately rammed a truck into a Christian procession on Easter Monday, killing 6 people and injuring several others. According to a human rights organization, this marks the third such attack targeting Christian holidays in the state, following weeks of anti-Christian violence across Nigeria that has claimed at least 126 lives and displaced thousands.
Eyewitnesses and residents have rejected the initial police report of a brake failure, calling the incident a calculated act of terror aimed at intimidating the Christian community. A former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth Wing) in Gombe stated, “This wasn’t a brake failure — it was a targeted act of intimidation against Christians.” Enraged youths reportedly set the truck ablaze after evacuating victims, and the Christian community is now demanding an independent investigation, accusing authorities of downplaying the attack.
The incident aligns with a broader surge in violence targeting Christians in Nigeria, amid fears of escalating Islamist violence. Data from a conflict analysis group highlights a 28% increase in attacks on civilian communities since 2020, with political violence rising by 19% in the same period. The attack has reignited concerns over religious persecution in Nigeria, where groups like Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen have been linked to the deaths of over 62,000 Christians since 2000. Tensions remain high as calls for justice grow louder.
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