The Asaba-Onitsha express way was over the weekend shut down by lorry drivers following the death of one of their members, Mr. Chimezie Okoye.
Late Mr. Okoye died in an accident while escaping from suspected touts at the Bridge Head Onitsha, who speedily, chased him.
Narrating their ordeal to the media, the elder brother, Mr. Maduabuchi Okoye, who was with his Late brother, at the time of his death, said after they paid the sum of three thousand, five hundred naira to the suspected touts and collected receipt, the group chased and finally over took them.
Mr. Okoye lamented that it was in the process of running away from the suspected touts that his late brother hit a pole by the roadside and the wood they were carrying fell on them and glorified God for spearing his life.On his part, the Vice President, Nigeria Lorry Drivers Association, Mr. Emmanuel Nwude lamented the ill treatment and all manner of extortions on drivers by touts.
Mr. Nwude called on the state government to dissolve the illegal unit, which claims to be working for it and put an end to harassment and brutality.
As at the time of this report, efforts by men of the Nigerian Police Force and Army to deposit the corpse at the mortuary was resisted by the drivers and relatives of the deceased, who insisted that the state government must address the issue of drivers and suspected touts in the state.
