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Female Truck Driver Blocks Highway in Abia to Protest Touts’ Harassment

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 24th, 2024.

Female Truck Driver Blocks Highway in Abia to Protest Touts’ Harassment

A female truck driver, transporting cement from Calabar, caused a significant traffic jam on the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene federal highway on Wednesday. In protest against harassment by local touts, she blocked the narrow, deteriorating road with her truck, causing severe inconvenience to motorists and commuters.

The incident occurred near the Umuahia Building Material Market, Isieke, about 10 meters from its second gate, in the direction of Umudike. For hours, traffic came to a standstill, trapping many vehicles attempting to enter or leave Umuahia.

Drivers familiar with the area attempted to navigate alternative local routes to reach their destinations, particularly those headed to Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

The truck driver was not present at the scene, but her husband was contacted. Around 11 am, a Vanguard correspondent arrived on the scene along with a team of security personnel, including soldiers and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), who attempted to restore order.

Security officers urged the driver’s husband to contact his wife so she could move the truck and clear the road. He was seen trying to reach her, but her phone was not connecting.

Sympathizers at the scene expressed their frustration with the touts, who had reportedly stopped and detained the driver since Tuesday night. In a fit of anger, she decided to block the highway on Wednesday morning to protest their harassment.