The Gombe State Chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding an immediate probe into the handling of the recent Easter tragedy in Billiri Local Government Area.
The party accused the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Billiri of shielding the driver responsible for the deadly incident and spreading false information to obstruct justice.
In a petition signed by the state chairman, Bobo Benson Bagwiba, and addressed to the Gombe State Commissioner of Police, the AAC expressed outrage over the DPO’s hasty and unverified claim that the accident was caused by a brake failure.
Copies of the petition were also sent to the Police Service Commission, the Zonal Assistant Inspector-General of Police, and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Gombe State.
The fatal incident, which occurred on April 21st during an Easter procession, saw a truck plow into a crowd of Christian worshippers, resulting in multiple deaths and numerous injuries.
According to the AAC, instead of conducting a thorough investigation, the DPO rushed to release a public statement attributing the crash to “suspected brake failure” without any technical assessment or expert analysis.
However, the narrative shifted days later on April 25th, when police formally charged the driver with causing death by dangerous and inconsiderate driving—effectively contradicting the initial claims.
The party criticized the DPO’s premature conclusion, arguing that it undermined the investigation, misled the public, and shielded the driver from immediate scrutiny. They further alleged that several eyewitnesses reported the driver intentionally targeted the procession, testimonies which the police allegedly ignored or failed to document properly.
“The DPO neglected basic investigative procedures, failed to secure the crime scene, preserve critical evidence, or uphold due process,” the petition said. “This amounts to dereliction of duty and gross misconduct.”
The AAC also accused the officer of breaching provisions of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, citing violations of Section 4 (general duties of the police), Section 24 (conduct of officers), Section 32(1) (accountability), and Section 66(1) (offenses by police officers).
Additionally, the petition argued that the DPO’s actions violated constitutional rights under Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which prioritizes citizens’ security and welfare, as well as Section 15(5), which mandates the elimination of corruption and abuse of power.
The party also referenced Section 39(1), which guarantees citizens the right to accurate information, criticizing the DPO for spreading falsehoods.
The AAC demanded the immediate redeployment of the Billiri DPO, disciplinary action in line with police service rules, an official public apology, and a comprehensive review of the police’s investigative failures regarding the case.
“This petition is not solely about punishing an officer; it is a call for justice, accountability, and institutional reform,” the AAC emphasized. “No police officer should be allowed to abuse their position. Justice demands transparency, and the people must trust that their safety will never be sacrificed for convenience or cover-ups.”
