Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Petrol tanker drivers have blocked the ever busy Spera-in Deo junction in the heart of Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State with their trucks.
The blockade started around 2pm and has remained for over an hour now with all efforts made to persuade them to rive their trucks proving abortive at the time of this report.
Sources in the area said the tanker drivers are protesting what they call incessant extortion, exploitation, harassment and intimidation by various state government task forces
It was gathered that members of the notorious state government task force on traffic light had thrown their nail ladened enforcement wood in front one of the petrol trucks at the junction causing the tire to puncture.
The punctured truck abruptly ground to a halt at the junction almost causing an accident.
The incensed driver left the truck at the spot and beckoned on colleagues who quickly arrived and joined him in blockading the road with their trucks.
They are demanding that the destroyed tire of the truck be replaced and an undertaking by government that incessant harassment of its members will stop.
The junction is an intersection of the Enugu-Abakaliki highway and the Afikpo-Abakaliki highway.
It is a major gateway from the two highways into the city centre and the blockade has caused a serious traffic holdup in the area.
The Senior Special Assistant on Transport to the Governor, Fred Nwogbaga, could not be reached at the time of this report.
More detail later.
