| Fury on the road
• LASTMA, truck drivers clash in Lagos
By TONY UDEMBA
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
 |
•
Rubben Chidalu
• PHOTO: Sun News Publishing
|
|
March 18, 2008 was a day that may not be forgotten soon by
truck drivers and members of the truck owners/ICD Transfer
Transporters Association.
That day, they were beaten black and blue by a team of LASMA
officials, backed by mobile policemen and hired thugs.
In the melee, many of the drivers sustained injuies, others
were arrested. Also, about 27 of their vehicles were impounded,
while more than 40 other trucks were vandalized, with their
windscreens smashed by the rampaging LASMA officials.
Trouble started when 27 trucks were conveying containers from
Apapa Port to Sapid Container Terminal in Mile 2 area of Lagos.
The trucks were accosted by some LASMA officials and policemen.
Alhaji Mohammed Ada, chairman, Ibafo Container Depot (ICD)
Transfer Transporters Association, alleged that the trucks
were clearly parked off the expressway as they waited for
their turns to drive into the Sapid terminal to discharge
their cargos.
According to the chairman, “as the trucks waited to
discharge their containers, without obstructing the free flow
of traffic, LASMA officials arrived, and started demanding
huge sums of money from the truck drivers. They threatened
that if the drivers failed to meet with their demands, they
will not allow the drivers to discharge their cargos.
“When the truck drivers refused to comply, the LASMA
officials became angry and went beserk. Backed by the mobile
policemen and thugs,they beat up the drivers and destroyed
our trucks.”
He said that the manager of Sapid terminal, who had tried
to broker peace, was equally battered.
He narrated how other 40 trucks, which had entered into the
drive-way leading to Sapid terminal, were destroyed and vandalized
by the LASMA team.
He said: “In a fit of anger, the LASMA men and police,
including hired thugs, decended on over 40 trucks, which had
already driven into the drive-way leading to Sapid, well off
the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, destroyed and vandalized them.
It is quite unfortunate that all this happened to us without
any provocations. In all, our members lost millions of naira,
owing to the unwanton destruction and vandalization of our
trucks.”
He regretted that the LASMA equally robbed and looted valuables
of the truck drivers, while the rampage lasted. He appealed
to relevant government authorities and the Lagos State Governor,
Babatunde Fashola, to release their trucks and to conduct
investigation into the matter.
“For too long, we have been subjected to endless intimidation,
harassment and extortion from LASMA officials. We will appreciate
the intervention of the Lagos State government, especially
the state governor in the matter, and save us from the hands
of LASMA officials. We appreciate the good job LASMA is doing
in the state, but a few bad eggs among them are creating problems
where there are none,” he said.
|
