Abia State Commissioner of Police has interfaced with Truck drivers who mounted a protest long Urata portion of Aba/ Port Harcourt express way.
The truck drivers are protesting over Bad Road, daily Ticking, Intimidation by Security Agencies and Task force harassment.
Comrade Richard Chinadu who spoke on behalf of the truck drivers noted that the peaceful protest has been on since Nine days.
He said bad roads in the State and its environs are causing damages of their trucks, goods and death of personnel.
He also said it is seriously affecting their business and their families as well.
Speaking on daily ticketing he said they were formerly paying through a platform window generated for them by the state government and that they pay their revenue through their union, but currently the state government introduced online ticketing which is affecting them.
They say they cannot round one trip in 3 or 4 days there by leading to another ticket being requested by the task force team, failure to comply leads to impoundment of their trucks.
On the issue of intimidation by Security Agencies he said there about 20 checking points from Imo gate – Osisioma each check points collects Two Thousand Naira each, they also delay them from accessing the time given by the state government which is 9pm – 6am.
His words ” Recently there is one of our men at the hospital because of gun shot and we believe that the state is not aware of this, we are asking if there is curfew in Aba and its environment? “
They plead to the State Government and the Federal government to come to my their rescue and as well the state government should allow them use the former window generated by the ministry of transport to pay their revenue.
Addressing the Truck drivers CP Mustapha assured them of conveying their plight to the state government and assured them of reaching out to other security agencies to ensure that they look in to their plights.
He requested their maximum cooperation in ensuring that the state maintenance law and order.
