Tragedy struck over the weekend at Ogi Junction in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, where two truck drivers were brutally killed by unknown gunmen, according to reports from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Imo State chapter.
Confirming the incident, Dahiru Musa, the NURTW chairman in Okigwe, stated that the attackers burnt both the truck and the bodies of the drivers. The vehicle, which was fully loaded with gari, was en route to Port Harcourt when the ambush occurred.
Following the attack, Musa promptly notified security agencies, including the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force. He revealed that both the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Okigwe and soldiers visited the crime scene, after which the remains of the victims were transported to a hospital. The victims were later buried on Monday after funeral prayers were offered.
Further details emerged from Mahmud Jafaru, spokesperson for the NURTW Heavy Truck division at Laranto Motor Park in Jos, who identified the deceased drivers as Haruna Muhammad and Adamu Ibrahim. According to Jafaru, the truck had departed Ayangade before being ambushed in broad daylight.
“This is one too many,” Jafaru lamented. “Northern drivers are being slaughtered like they’re worth nothing. Once you’re a northern driver heading to the South, especially Port Harcourt, you can’t rest easy. We’ve lost countless men and trucks worth millions, and the authorities appear helpless.”
Jafaru passionately called on the federal and state governments, as well as the security forces, to take urgent and decisive action to protect truck drivers who are increasingly becoming targets of violence in the region.
As of the time of this report, the Imo State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the attack.
