Motorists in Rivers State demonstrate against alleged attack by enforcement team members

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There was tension at the Obiri-Kwere Flyover on the outskirts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday after commercial drivers staged a protest over the alleged assault of one of their members by suspected taskforce officials.

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The drivers temporarily suspended their operations, blocked the road and demanded an end to the activities of the taskforce, even as they urged the state government to come to their aid.

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The protest resulted in gridlock as vehicles plying the road, including those heading to the Port Harcourt International Airport, were stranded for about two hours.

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The protesting drivers alleged that the victim was pushed out of his moving vehicle during an attempt by the taskforce officials to seize it over a ticket-related issue.

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They therefore demanded the immediate disbandment of the taskforce, accusing its members of unprofessional conduct, harassment and extortion.

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One of the protesting drivers said, “They seized the driver’s vehicle and dragged him out of it, and he fell down.

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“And the driver had a major operation recently. He was seriously injured and was taken to the hospital. That is why we are protesting.”

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Another driver said attacks on their members and extortion had become a daily occurrence at the Obiri-Kwere Flyover.

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“Look at my hand, they broke my hand and ran. They should leave this Obiri-Kwere for us. There is no bus stop here.

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“They will demarcate somewhere and mark it as a boundary. If you park at the boundary, they will still come and impose charges on us.

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“And the money they are collecting from us is not small. They collect money that you cannot even make in a week. Is it not wickedness? We don’t want these agberos (touts) anymore,” he said.

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Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Choba-Eleme Chapel, Success Temitope, called for the taskforce to be reconstituted with members drawn from recognised transport unions to ensure professionalism and accountability.

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Temitope, while emphasising the need to streamline the taskforce, said, “The work belongs to the union. Let the work be left for the union, not to gather some people and say this person is the taskforce chairman. No.

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“They should call the two gazetted unions we have in Nigeria. We have the National Union and we have the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria.

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“The two unions should come together and form a joint taskforce to stop this matter.”

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