Truck drivers temporarily blocked Benin-Lagos Express road near Okada junction in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Thursday, following alleged assault by tax collectors accused of assaulting one of their colleagues.
It was learnt that the protest against alleged extortion by tax collectors, left many travellers including Lagos-bound female Nigerian based on Europe with her children and other road users stranded for hours.
It was said that a yet-to-be named assaulted truck driver, had one of his legs fractured during a fight between drivers and tax collectors that caused gridlock on the road.
TheNewspad reports that some stranded travellers alighted from their vehicles and sat on the road demarcation after the violent clash.
A witness said in a viral video shared by Facebook user, Osaro Nagudia, said trouble started when the injured driver was intercepted by revenue agents and assaulted after he replied one of them unruly that he had no money give them.
In solidarity, angry truck driver barricaded the road with their heavy duty vehicles for several hours on the Expressway.
The unidentified witness in the footage, lamented the chaotic situation and absence of security personnel as well as traffic officials on the Expressway.
According to him, “One of the truck drivers had his leg broken by the tax collectors. In solidarity, used their trucks to block the road and took the injured driver to hospital for urgent medical attention”.
“There is a heavy gridlock here before your get to Okada junction on Benin-Lagos road. There was an argument between a truck driver and tax collectors.
They (tax collectors) attacked one of the drivers and broke his leg. The injured driver is not in hospital. In solidarity with their colleague, angry truck drivers blocked the road with their trucks.
“Here, we are stranded. And we have been here now for hours. There is no security here. Nobody is on ground to clear the road”, the witness said.
The truckers later ease the restriction when some notable individuals addressed and pleaded with drivers to stealth their swords regardless of their agitations.
The development paved the way for road users and travellers to continue their journey unhindered.
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