Abia: LG chairman intervenes as protesting truck drivers block major road

The local government Chairman of Obingwa LGA of Abia State, Eric Egwuibe, has paid the medical bills of a truck driver who was allegedly beaten and injured by members of a task force along Aba-Ikot Ekpene road.

The payment of the medical bill, it was gathered, was to assuage the drivers who blocked one lane of the federal road for many hours, in protest over the alleged attack on their colleague by members of the task force.

It was also gathered that the driver was injured when the task force operatives were trying to force the drivers to comply with the government-approved hours for movement of trucks on the road.

The local government chairman who addressed the drivers at Lagu Onicha Ngwa, advised them to always apply peace and dialogue in presenting their complaints.

Egwuibe, who admonished the truck drivers against resorting to protests or blocking the road, said that such actions result to loss of important business hours and traffic congestion.

He noted that the administration of Governor Alex Otti has been accommodating to all law abiding people living in the state, irrespective of their state of origin, and thanked God that no life was lost during the protest.

He promised that their complaints and requests will be looked into.

Earlier, the truck drivers said that they blocked one lane of the road to protest against alleged harassment by members of the task force and also to draw government’s attention to their wish to be allowed to move in the day hours.

The truck driver including, Sunday Oseni and Monday Amaechi, said that they are restricted from moving at some hours during the day, even though they regularly obtain their daily tickets.