Tanker drivers, Monday evening, blocked the Lokoja-Abuja highway following a death of their colleagues whose identity still remains sketchy.
A source who did not want his name in print told WikkiTimes the tanker driver died after trying to evade “a stop-and-search operation” by military officers stationed at a checkpoint in Jamata along Murtala Muhammad flyover.
The tanker driver refused to stop when flagged down at the military checkpoint and was given a chase by the officers, according to eyewitnesses.
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When he could not bear the chase anymore, the driver stopped his truck and jumped into a bush where he fell into a ditch and sustained severe injuries. “Though they tried to safe his life, but he later died,” an eyewitness said.
Protesting the death of their colleague, various truck drivers blocked the highway, causing a heavy holdup throughout the night.
Yahaya Adoza Bello, the state Kogi State governor, earlier today ordered the immediate reopening of the highway blocked by the protesting drivers, according to Omodara Jerry, the special adviser to the governor on security matters.
Jerry said his boss was “sad over the incident” but at the same time condemned the action of the drivers, saying there are better ways of handling and channeling their grievances.
The continuous barricade of the highway, according to Jerry is inimical to livelihood of the citizens. “The guards commander and his men are already on their way to ensure fruitful dialogue with the aggrieved tanker drivers for the possible reopening of the highway,” he said.
“Blocking the highway is not the best way to handle issues,” he continued. “Where you are aggrieved in one way or the other, you must look at what the provisions of the law say so that you don’t take the law into your hands.”
The governor also advised security operatives to always exercise caution in handling issues in order avert crisis.
At press time, WikkiTimes learned that officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and other security personnel are still battling to pacify the drivers to remove the blockade.