The Nationwide Union of Highway Delivery Employees has staged a protest in Jos, Plateau Climate, condemning the killing of northern truck drivers allegedly by means of contributors of the Indigenous Population of Biafra within the South-East pocket.
The protest, which took park on Sunday, noticed drivers sporting placards with inscriptions corresponding to “Enough is enough,” “End the carnage, ensure smooth passage of northern truck drivers,” and “We are united against violence, protect all drivers regardless of origin.”
Talking all through the demonstration, the Climate Coordinator of Fat Vans, Plateau Climate Council, Janedu Ahamad Zaki, described the assaults as “senseless and barbaric.”
He known as at the Federal Govt to deploy safety body of workers to give protection to truck drivers and their houses within the pocket.
“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 offense we have committed to deserve this kind of barbaric killing,” he stated.
Zaki additional alleged that over 50 drivers had misplaced their lives, life loads of vehicles sporting items corresponding to farm animals, grains, and perishable pieces were lit a fire or looted.
“Between January and December 2024 alone, in communities such as Ihube, Okigwe, and Isuochi in Imo State, more than 20 drivers were brutally killed, and their trucks either burned or damaged. Some bodies were recovered, while others remain missing,” he claimed.
He cited a contemporary assault on January 28, 2025, the place 4 drivers — Haruna Jibril, Bala Muhammad, Dalladi Jafaru, and Auwal Muhammad — have been ambushed between Lokpanta in Imo Climate and Umuahia in Abia Climate life transporting tomatoes to Port Harcourt. In keeping with him, all 4 have been killed, and their vehicles have been deserted by means of the assailants.
“The perpetrators, after unloading the tomatoes, filmed the empty truck and sent the videos to us to confirm that they had killed the victims. When we called them to release the bodies, they told us to forget about them,” he recounted.
Zaki lamented that regardless of reporting the assault to the Police Segment Command in Okigwe, the Section of Climate Services and products, the Nigerian Military, and the Imo Climate Police Command, incorrect motion were taken.
“Just yesterday, suspected IPOB members in the Four Corner community of Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State opened fire on a truck carrying perishable items heading to Port Harcourt. Luckily, the driver and his assistants survived. These sad incidents continue unabated without any serious move to stop them,” he added.
He recognized essentially the most bad routes as “Enugu to Lokpanta, Lokpanta to Okigwe, and Okigwe to Umuahia in Abia State,” including that concern of assaults has made it tough for truck drivers to perform within the pocket.
The demolition of vehicles, estimated to be importance billions of naira, has worsened financial depression amongst union contributors, he stated, accusing safety businesses of failing to give protection to them.
“Despite continued reports of these incidents to various security agencies, including the police and military, no concrete actions have been taken to address the issue,” he said.
The protesters known as at the federal govt, specifically President Bola Tinubu, the Nationwide Safety Assistant, the Eminent of Defence Team of workers, the Eminent of Military Team of workers, and the Inspector Common of Police, to whip fast motion.
“As Nigerian citizens, we believe we have the right to move freely and engage in legitimate businesses without fear of persecution. This level of brutality and disregard for human life is unacceptable, and we demand justice for our members,” Zaki stated.
The union additionally demanded that IPOB leaders be held answerable for the alleged atrocities dedicated by means of their contributors and known as for larger safety presence alongside affected routes.
Jafar Mahmud, who spoke to the behalf of the protesters, warned that if the assaults persevered, truck drivers could be compelled to droop the transportation of products to the Southeast.
“If these atrocities continue, we will have no option but to suspend the transportation of goods to the Southeast. It is high time the government rises to the occasion. We pray that Almighty God blesses Nigeria and keeps us united,” Mahmud stated.