BREAKING: Tanker Drivers Barricade Asaba-Benin Road Over Alleged Shooting Of Colleague By Police

Tanker drivers flocked to the Asaba–Benin Expressway in Delta state on Thursday to protest the alleged shooting of one of their colleagues by a police officer.

The protesting drivers, who swore not to leave the road until justice is served, bemoaned the way security forces, particularly the Nigeria Police, treat them, alleging that they are fond of extorting money from them.

According to SaharaReporters, the incident that sparked the Thursday protest occurred on Tuesday, when a police officer allegedly shot a tanker driver near the River Niger Bridge’s Asaba tollgate area.

The drivers were demonstrating against police intimidation and the suspected shooting of one of their colleagues by a police officer, according to an eyewitness.

“On Tuesday, a tanker driver was driving on the speed lane along the Asaba-Benin Expressway toward the River Niger bridgehead, that’s before the Asaba tollgate when a police convoy came and in an attempt to manoeuvre its way, the convoy overtook the tanker and a Hilux vehicle had crashed along the line. Then out of fear of being beaten and arrested, the tanker driver took to his heels and as he was running, one of the police officers in the convoy shot him in the leg,” the eyewitness said.

The gridlock caused by the tanker drivers started around 7:00 am on Thursday and lasted several hours, as commuters and motorists were seen stranded.

As at the time of filing this report, calls put across to the Delta State police public relations officer (PPRO), DSP Bright Edafe were not answered.