Commercial vehicle drivers on Friday blocked Kaduna-Abuja highway, creating traffic logjam on both sides of the road.
The drivers blocked the road in protest of alleged shooting of one of their colleagues by police personnel.
Kaduna State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan confirmed the incident
The Commissioner however said, the road had been reopened as at Friday afternoon, but the traffic gridlock was still seen as at the time of filing this report.
The road linking the entire North West with the nation’s capital was shut down around Alheri Camp in Chikun local government of Kaduna State.
Meanwhile the Internal Security Commissioner in a statement he issued Friday said, “Kaduna-Abuja Road is open, but it will take hours for gridlock to clear.”
According to the statement, “In the early hours of today, a group of drivers blocked the Kaduna-Abuja Road to protest the killing of their colleague by a policeman.
“The loss of life is deeply regretted. The Kaduna State Government commiserates with the family of the deceased driver and has directed that the police will thoroughly investigate the incident.
“However, grief and a sense of loss do not justify imposing such pains on other citizens as the protesting drivers have done by blocking a very busy public highway. They have left many people stranded for several hours and caused considerable distress.
“The Kaduna State Government apologises to road users for the inconveniences caused by the hours-long blockade.
“The road has since been opened and the protesting drivers cleared. However, the standstill created by the blockage has resulted in a gridlock that will take hours to clear. The queue of stranded vehicles stretches for several kilometres.
“Therefore, the state government appeals to all persons traveling on the Kaduna-Abuja highway to patiently cooperate with efforts to clear the gridlock.” He said.
