Lagos, Ogun truck drivers lament harassment by louts

The Association of Truck and Trailer Drivers has raised serious concerns over the persistent harassment, maltreatment, extortion, and wrongful arrests inflicted on them by street urchins, commonly referred to as touts, in Lagos and Ogun states.

During a protest visit to The PUNCH Place on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the National Chairman, Mr Abdulwasiu Okunola, explained that these touts, who are scattered across Lagos and Ogun states, typically extorted no less than N50,000 from drivers whenever they were stopped.

The ATTD emphasised that the touts were not affiliated with any recognised union or organisation, noting that their activities were particularly rampant in areas such as Orile, Mile 2, Alakija, Trade Fair, Apapa, Ijora, and Agbara.

Okunola appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the crisis, stating that his members were often brutalised and imprisoned without cause.

He also revealed that the touts frequently collaborated with security operatives, including the policemen, naval officers, and soldiers, to carry out their unlawful acts.

He said, “We don’t have the freedom to ply the Lagos and Ogun state roads because of the trouble caused by these so-called touts. From Apapa to Ijora, they appear out of nowhere, damaging trucks and stealing goods. They shatter the windshields of trucks and trailers, and these touts also collaborate with the armed forces in those areas—the navy, police, and army.”

Okunola recounted an incident where one of the association’s members was injured when the touts tried to extort money from him.

He added that these touts were stationed at every bus stop from Orile to Agbara.

“He is currently hospitalised, and we have pictures to prove it. They come out with sticks to damage trucks and assault drivers, demanding unaccounted-for money.”

“These touts are not affiliated with the NURTW. Many of our drivers are suffering in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. Trucks are hijacked in Lagos State in broad daylight.

“We’ve endured enough. We want the government to intervene. If these touts demand money, they ask for as much as N50,000 from truck drivers, and it’s not even the local government officials asking for the money. A police officer also shot one of our drivers without any provocation. Protesting seems futile, which is why we’ve come to The PUNCH to voice our grievances.

“The government must help us stop these so-called touts from targeting trailers and trucks in Lagos and Ogun. If tickets are to be issued, let us know the designated stops where they will be collected. However, as an association, we already pay taxes.”

The Vice-Chairman of ATTD, Mr Wasiu Ajani, highlighted the additional burden faced by drivers whose goods were hijacked, saying they were often held responsible for the loss and might face imprisonment if they were unable to compensate the owners of the goods.

“Besides what the National Chairman said, most drivers whose goods are hijacked are sent to prison. The owners of the goods don’t listen to the drivers —they simply recover their goods, debit the driver, and then remand them until they can pay up. These people aren’t part of any union. We have a union at the depot where we pay and get receipts. Because of these issues, the drivers entering Lagos from the (Sagamu) Interchange panic, leading to many accidents involving trailers and trucks. The government should also address the situation of those drivers still in prison and release them. Out of 100 per cent, 99 per cent of them are innocent of the charges against them.”

The National Treasurer, Mr Femi Bakare, added, “We demand the cancellation of the extortion of money from truck drivers by these touts, as they are not affiliated with any union. If collections are to be made from Orile to Agbara, there shouldn’t be more than two collection points. There aren’t even three local governments in this area, yet there are more than 50 points where money is extorted. These touts approach drivers to damage trucks—brand-new vehicles that cost companies nothing less than N200m. The amount they demand is based on the value of the goods we carry. They even cut the gas hoses of trucks to cause breakdowns and then demand money before repairs can be made.”