Tension gripped residents of Oji River Local Government Area, Enugu State on Thursday following the killing of a truck driver at Ugwuoba along Enugu-Onitsha expressway by touts collecting produce fee for the state government. Vanguard gathered that the touts killed the driver with knife commonly known as (daga) at about 9:30am and went on hiding.
It was also gathered that the truck left Wukari in Taraba State and was heading to Awka in Anambra State. The vehicle was accosted by the touts collecting produce at Ugwuoba in Oji River council area of Enugu State and a disagreement led to the fatal stabbing of the driver. It was learnt that the truck drivers have blocked both the new road and old road for over two hours, keeping every traveller stranded.
One of the drivers was overheard saying that the road would remain blocked until Enugu State Governor or an official from the state government comes to address them. He lamented that the tout on the road have severally killed their members for doing nothing. “Enough is enough, we can’t accept it any longer. Why must these people be killing our members like chicken everytime. This is not the first, second or third. “They do kill our people everytime but today marks the end. This road will be blocked until Enugu State Governor comes here to address us,” he said.
An eye witness who begged for anonymous said that the driver was telling them that he have paid the produce tax but they insisted he must pay again and after a little squabble they stabbed him on the left side of chest and he fainted and died.
Source: Vanguard