Ebonyi Tanker Drivers Block Road To Protest ‘Gov’t Harassment’

Petrol tanker drivers have blocked the popular Spera-in-Deo junction in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, causing traffic disruption over alleged frequent harassment by government officials.

The blockade, which began around 2 pm, has persisted for hours and attempts to resolve the situation have failed.

According to reports, the protesting tanker drivers are protesting what they allege to be continuous extortion, exploitation, harassment, and intimidation by various state government task forces.

The incident reportedly happened when a member of the state government traffic management task force punctured a truck’s tyre in a bid to stop the vehicle in the middle of the road.

In response, the frustrated driver abandoned the truck and called on his colleagues to joine in the protest by using their vehicles to block the junction,

The Spera-in-Deo junction is an intersection of the Enugu-Abakaliki Highway and the Afikpo-Abakaliki Highway and a gateway into the city.

The drivers are asking the government to replace the destroyed tyre and provide an undertaking to stop the alleged harassment of their members.

Their actions have led to a traffic gridlock, with commuters stranded as the situation remains unresolved.

THE WHISTLER‘s efforts to contact the Federal Road Safety Corps Ebonyi state sector command were unsuccessful. Calls and messages sent to the command were not responded to.