Truck drivers under the National Union of Road Transport Workers staged a protest in Jos, Plateau State, on Sunday, condemning the alleged killings of northern truck drivers in the Southeast region.
The demonstrators accused members of the Indigenous People of Biafra of being responsible for the attacks.
According to The PUNCH, during the protest, the drivers carried placards with messages such as “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.”
Speaking at the demonstration, the Plateau State Coordinator of Heavy Trucks, Janedu Ahamad Zaki, described the attacks as “senseless and barbaric.” He urged the federal government to intervene by deploying security personnel to safeguard truck drivers and their goods.
“For eight years, northern truck drivers have faced persistent attacks while transporting goods to the Southeast. Many have lost their lives, and their trucks have been destroyed. We are yet to understand why we are being targeted,” he said.
Zaki claimed that more than 50 drivers had been killed over the years, with numerous trucks carrying essential goods—including cattle, grains, and perishable items—burnt or looted.
“Between January and December 2024, more than 20 drivers were killed in areas such as Ihube, Okigwe, and Isuochi in Imo State. Some bodies were recovered, while others remain missing,” he alleged.
Highlighting a recent incident, Zaki recounted an attack on January 28, 2025, when four truck drivers—Haruna Jibril, Bala Muhammad, Dalladi Jafaru, and Auwal Muhammad—were ambushed along the Lokpanta-Umuahia route while transporting tomatoes to Port Harcourt.
“All four were killed, and their trucks were looted. The perpetrators even recorded videos of the emptied truck and sent them to us as proof. When we pleaded for the bodies, they told us to forget about them,” he said.
Zaki criticized security agencies for their inaction, stating that reports had been made to the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Imo State Police Command, but no meaningful response had been received.
“Just yesterday, suspected IPOB members attacked a truck carrying perishable goods in the Four Corner community of Nkanu West, Enugu State. Fortunately, the driver and his assistants survived. These attacks continue unchecked, despite numerous reports to the authorities,” he lamented.
He identified dangerous routes as “Enugu to Lokpanta, Lokpanta to Okigwe, and Okigwe to Umuahia in Abia State,” adding that the ongoing attacks had instilled fear in truck drivers, making transportation in the region increasingly difficult.
The protesters called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector General of Police to take immediate action to curb the attacks.
“As Nigerian citizens, we should be able to move freely and conduct legitimate business without fear. The brutality against our members must stop, and justice must be served,” Zaki stressed.
Jafar Mahmud, another protester, warned that if the attacks persisted, truck drivers might be left with no choice but to halt the transportation of goods to the Southeast.
“If these killings and destruction of our trucks continue, we will have no option but to suspend all transportation of goods to the region. We urge the government to act swiftly to prevent further escalation. May Almighty God bless Nigeria and keep us united,” Mahmud said.
The union also called for IPOB leaders to be held accountable for the alleged violence and demanded a stronger security presence on affected routes.
