Protesting truck and tanker drivers whose colleague was killed have blocked the Maraban Jama’a axis of Jos-Abuja Road, Plateau State, on Saturday.
They alleged that policemen killed one of them, and are demanding for justice.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that the blockade has caused a gridlock and
both lanes of the road were unpassable.
A driver, Haruna Ahmed, said the incident occurred after the victim paid N500 demanded by the police, adding that after paying the money, a police officer, who came from afar, took a plank and hit the driver on the head, and he died instantly.
He said, “This is injustice. The incident occurred at the last checkpoint here in Maraban Jama’a. They asked us to pay the money, which we did. After collecting the money, one of the officers told us to remove the barricades and continue our journey.
“As soon as the deceased was about to remove the barricade, a police officer stormed the area and hit him with a bamboo on the head. What offence did he commit to deserve this? What crime did he commit? Justice must be served,” he added.
The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, was yet to comment on the incident at the time of filing the report.
Other drivers accuse the security agents stationed around the area of always extorting money from them.
They called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure justice for the deceased and prevent a recurrence.
