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Threaten to withdraw trucks from South East roads
From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (Heavy Truck), Plateau State Council, have protested what they described as incessant attacks on their trucks and killing of their members along roads in the South East.
They alleged that for the past eight years, truck drivers from northern Nigeria have been consistently targeted, killed, and had their trucks destroyed or burnt while transporting goods to the South East.
Addressing the press at the Laranto Heavy Truck Office, Jos, on Sunday, the drivers threatened to withdraw all their trucks and stop drivers from delivering goods to the south eastern part of the country.
In the text of the briefing, read by State Coordinator Heavy Truck Plateau Council, Alh. Janedu Ahamad Zaki, the drivers lamented that the frequency and severity of these attacks have reached alarming levels, with over 50 drivers lost, many still missing, and hundreds of trucks either burned, damaged, or forcefully taken away from drivers.
He said, “It is with a heavy heart that we address you today on the continued killing of our members, destruction, and burning of our trucks by gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the south east of Nigeria.
“For the past eight years, truck drivers from northern Nigeria have been consistently targeted, killed, and had their trucks destroyed or burnt while transporting goods to the south east. We are still trying to understand what offence we have committed to deserve this kind of barbaric killing.
“The frequency and severity of these attacks have reached alarming levels, with over 50 drivers lost, many still missing, and hundreds of trucks either burned, damaged, or forcefully taken away from drivers. Goods, including cattle, perishable items, and grains, are deliberately burned, destroyed, and stolen by the perpetrators on a daily basis.
“Between January and December 2024, alone, in the communities of Ihube, Okigwe, and Isiochi local government areas of Imo State, more than 20 drivers were brutally killed, and their trucks were either burned or damaged.
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“During these incidents, some corpses were recovered, while others remain missing. Another sad incident occurred on January 28, 2025, when four drivers, including Haruna Jibril, Bala Muhammad, Dalladi Jafaru, and Auwal Muhammad, carrying tomatoes to Port Harcourt, were attacked between Lopanta community in Imo State and Umuahia in Abia State. All four drivers were killed, and the goods in their trucks uploaded.
“The perpetrators, after uploading the tomatoes, filmed the empty truck and sent the videos to us to confirm that they had killed the victims.
“When we called them on phone to release the bodies of the victims, they told us that we should forget about them.
“Soon after the recent incident, we reported it to the Police Area Command in Okigwe. We also reported to the DSS office in Okigwe. Thereafter, we reported the incident to the army military camp in Okigwe and Police headquarters in Imo.
“Up to this moment, we have not heard the whereabouts of their corpses and the trucks.”
The drivers threatened to withdraw their men from south eastern roads if their safety is no longer guaranteed.
“We urge the federal government, particularly President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, and Inspector General of Police, to take drastic measures to put an end to these senseless killings and destruction.
“We demand that the government should conduct a thorough investigation to identify those responsible for these heinous crimes and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
“We also demand that the federal and state governments of the affected states should increase security presence along affected roads to prevent further attacks on northern truck drivers and create a safer environment for truck drivers to operate. This will allow drivers to move freely without fear or intimidation.”
