Again, truck drivers killed in Imo

Gunmen have killed two drivers and burnt their truck at Ogi Junction in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.

Officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Imo State chapter, told Daily Trust that the incident occurred around 10.30 am on Saturday.

Dahiru Musa, NURTW’s chairman in Okigwe, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that they had informed security officials, including the DPO of Okigwe police division about the incident.

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Henry Okoye, spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust on Tuesday, saying that the situation has been brought under control and investigation into the matter has commenced.

Narrating the incident, the NURTW chairman said, “Suspected Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members had blocked the road and opened fire on them on Saturday. They killed the drivers, and went on to burn the truck, which was fully loaded with garri.”

According to the chairman, shortly after the incident, he reported it to the security forces, including soldiers and the police.

“The soldiers and DPO of Okigwe Police division have visited the scene of the incident. The police and I evacuated the corpses to a hospital, and on Monday, we offered funeral prayers and buried them,” he said.

Speaking further on the development, the spokesperson of NURTW Heavy Truck, Laranto Motor Park, Jos, Mahmud Jafaru, said the truck was heading for Port Harcourt when the perpetrators launched the attack.

Jafaru gave the names of the drivers as Haruna Muhammad and Adamu Ibrahim.

“The drivers loaded garri from Ayangade to Port Harcourt and were confronted by gunmen at Okigwe. This is one too many. Drivers from the North have become endangered species.

“They are killed at will. As long as you are a driver from the North, plying that road, you would not have rest of mind until you get to Port Harcourt, and yet the government and security forces seem to do nothing about it,” the spokesperson said.

Jafaru, however, called on the government to take necessary action to address the problem, as they have lost countless drivers, and trucks worth millions of naira have been destroyed.

Parents, relatives condemn killing

Parents and relatives of the deceased, who live in Jos, condemned the attack and killing of their loved ones, describing the situation as painful and tragic. They called on the government and security officials to take necessary actions to stop the dastardly acts.

Khadija Haruna, mother of Haruna Muhammad, one of the drivers, described her son’s death as heartbreaking, saying she would always remember him for everything. She said, “I feel the pain of his demise. He was a person of good character who didn’t look for trouble, an obedient son to his parents. I loved him, and he loved me too.”

The mother said Haruna was everything to her. “He took care of all my needs. In fact, he’s the breadwinner of the family, including taking care of his siblings. I had the opportunity to communicate with him on the day he was killed. On that day, he promised to send us money to buy food items. While waiting for his promise, the next news I got was that of his killing.”

Khadija remembered that “The day he was leaving, he came to inform me that he was traveling to the South, and I prayed for him. After he left the house, he came back five times. When he came back the last time, I held his hand and asked him if all was well, but my mind wasn’t at rest. He told me that he loved me and reminded me of how I suffered while bringing him up, and so he’d always want to be with me. That was my last encounter with him.”

Ibrahim Muhammad, Haruna’s younger brother, also condemned the attack, noting that he communicated with him the day he was killed.

He said “Haruna’s death has seriously affected my life and that of my family members because we depended on him a lot. He used to provide necessary assistance to me and other family members.

After the family was informed about the incident, we tried his phone number but it was switched off, signalling that Haruna has gone forever.”

We’ll unravel those responsible for the attack Police

The spokesperson of Imo State Police command, Henry Okoye, said the command has launched an investigation into the incident, assuring that the police would do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators of the act.

According to Okoye, normalcy has been restored in the area, while calling on people to go about their normal activities as security measures have been put in place to secure the area.

“One thing I can assure you is that the command, under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, is doing its best to ensure that crime is brought to its bare minimum within that axis.

“We want to assure the public that as long as they cooperate with us, and give us detailed information and actionable intelligence, all those things will soon be over. We are currently doing our best to ensure the security of the area. People should go about their lawful businesses, and also remain security conscious and report any suspicious movement. We are investigating the matter.

“The CP has asked the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the state’s Criminal Investigation Department to do a thorough investigation and unravel those responsible for the act.”

Daily Trust recalls that on March 2, 2025, drivers and owners of trucks conveying goods from the North to the South East had protested against the incessant killing of their members by suspected IPOB members.

They staged the protest in Jos, the Plateau State capital, decrying the incessant killing of their members and destruction of their vehicles.

‘My son had 12 children, two wives’

Haruna’s mother revealed that her son left behind two wives and 12 children, wondering how she would take care of the children, particularly given the fact the deceased was the breadwinner of the family.

“I never imagined that Haruna would not live to see his children grow. The perpetrators of his death have indeed done their worst. We thank Allah for everything. We pray that his soul rests in peace,” the mother said.

Yusuf Ibrahim, an elder brother to Adamu Ibrahim, the second driver, also condemned the attack and called on the authorities to take action.

He said, “Adamu is the last born of our family. His death is indeed painful to the family, especially given the nature of the attack. He was a human being, but look at how he was killed. Even animals cannot be killed in such a way. The killing has disturbed the entire family.

“If the government would take drastic action against the perpetrators, we would be happy, because taking proactive measures would definitely prevent further occurrences of such incidents. It would also serve as a deterrent to others. Unfortunately, people are now taking the law in their own hands,” Yusuf said.

Imo govt mum

The Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, has yet to respond to calls and messages by our correspondent at press time.

Past protest in Jos over killing of truck drivers in S/East

In March this year, drivers and owners of trucks conveying goods from the North to the South East protested against incessant killing of their members by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

They staged the protest in Jos, Plateau State capital, decrying that many of their members had been killed and their vehicles burnt in the attacks.

The drivers, under the umbrella of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (heavy trucks), marched with placards with different inscriptions such as ‘Stop killing northern drivers’, ‘Tinubu should protect our members’, and ‘Enough of burning and destruction of our trucks in the South East.’

They listed the most dangerous routes as including Enugu-Lopanta-Lopanta-Okigwue and Okigwue to Umuahia in Abia State.

Addressing journalists, Mahmud Jafar, who also led the protest at the time, said unprovoked attacks, intimidation and harassment against truck drivers from the North had become the order of the day in recent years.

He said they would boycott the transportation of goods to the South East for their safety and security if the situation persists.

“It is with a heavy heart that we address you today on the continued killing of our members, destruction and burning of our trucks by gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOP) in the South East of Nigeria.

“For the past eight years, truck drivers from northern Nigeria have been consistently targeted, killed, and had their trucks destroyed or burnt while transporting goods to the south east. We are still trying to understand what offence we have committed to deserve this kind of barbaric killing.

“The frequency and severity of these attacks have reached alarming levels, with over 50 drivers lost, many still missing, and hundreds of trucks either burned, damaged, or forcefully taken away from drivers.

“Goods, including cattle, perishable items, and grains, are deliberately burned, destroyed, and stolen by the perpetrators on daily basis,” Jafar said.

Narrating some of the incidents that claimed the lives of truck drivers, he said between January and December 2024, more than 20 drivers were brutally killed and their trucks burnt or damaged in the communities of Ehobey, Okigwe, Isoche, and Ehobey local government areas of Imo State.

Jafar said some corpses were recovered while others remained missing.

He said on January 28, 2025, four truck drivers–Haruna  Jibril, Bala Muhammad, Dalladi Jafaru, and Auwal Muhammad-  carrying tomatoes to Port Harcourt were killed and their goods unloaded between  Lobanta community in Imo State and Umahia in Abia State.

He said the perpetrators filmed the empty trucks and sent the videos to the vehicle owners to confirm that they had killed the victims and when the owners called the perpetrators to demand the release of the victims’ bodies, they were told to forget about them.

He said the incident was reported on January 28 to the Police Area Command in Okigwe, the DSS office in Okigwe, the army military camp in Okigwe and the Police Headquarters in Imo, “but were are yet know the whereabouts of the corpses or the trucks.

“Suspected IPOB members in the Four Corner community of Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State opened fire on a truck carrying perishable items heading to Port Harcourt. Luckily, the driver and his assistants survived the attack. These sad incidents continue unabated without any serious move to stop them,” Jafar added.