The malicious acts of area boys known as extortionists along Otto-Wharf Mile 2 road resulted in the collapse of a truck and a container, as well as the setting ablaze of a truck in the Okota Amuwo Odofin region of Lagos State.
According to information received, the two instances occurred early Sunday morning, when hoodlums smashed containers loaded with imported products.
Speaking with reporters, Chairman of the Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee (LASTCOC), Alhaji Lukman Shittu Zangalo, stated that the incident occurred when area youngsters on the Otto-Wharf Mile 2 road yanked the driver’s steering wheel, causing the truck and container to tumble.
He stated that the event marks the fourth occasion this year that area youngsters have fallen from laden vehicles at Otto-Wharff.
He further said that guys from Okota Amuwo Odofin set fire to a truck after one of them fell from a moving truck and died while attempting to blackmail the driver. It also happened on Sunday morning.
He noted that the actions of local lads and union thugs against truck and cargo owners are jeopardising the ease of doing business in Lagos State.
He revealed that haulage enterprises are relocating from Lagos state, and that international investors are discouraged from investing in Nigeria.
According to him, the trucking industry is steadily crumbling as a result of sabotage by hoodlums, RTEAN and NURTW union thugs.
“We are calling on the Lagos State Government to declare an outright ban on the activities of area boys, as well as to instruct NURTW and RTEAN to leave truck operators alone and focus on their Danfo, Korope, and mini bus jurisdictions to avoid violent confrontation and a breakdown in law and order.”
“We truckers do not take money from Danfo buses or Korope. We don’t disrupt their operations. Therefore, NURTW and RTEAN don’t have the right on the road to smash our trucks, hurt our drivers and fall people’s imported containers on the road under the premise of illegal toll collection’, he bemoaned.