Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has ordered that the barricaded Lokoja-Abuja highway by tanker drivers who were protesting against the death of their colleagues be removed immediately for a free flow of traffic on the busy road.
Governor Bello gave the order on Tuesday through the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara in Lokoja.
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Daily Trust learnt that the protesting tanker drivers blocked the said highway on Monday night following the alleged death of one of their colleagues who was said to have fallen into a ditch and died while being trailed by soldiers for refusing to stop for a check at a military point around Jamata, close to the Murtala Mohammed bridge.
It was reported that the deceased stopped his vehicle on noticing that he was being chased, but fell into a ditch and got injured badly in his attempt to run into the bush.
The late driver was said to have been rushed to the hospital for medical attention but died in the process.
Governor Yahaya Bello expressed sadness over the death of the driver, but condemned the action of the tanker drivers’ union, advising them to look for better ways of channelling their grievances.
The governor added that the Lokoja-Abuja highway is a busy road that is critical to the economy of the country, saying that its continued blockade is detrimental to businesses and to the lives of the people.
“This blockade has affected businesses of Nigerians and might endanger some people with critical health issues. Imagine if an expectant mother falls into labour in the resultant gridlock. Blocking the highway is not the best way to handle issues.
“Where you are aggrieved in one way or the other, you must look at what the provisions of the law say so that you don’t take the law into your hands,’’ he said.
However, Governor Yahaya Bello advised security agents to always exercise caution in handling issues in order not to create a crisis that will injure the fabric of the nation.
