Commercial minibus drivers in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have continued their protest over the alleged assault of one of their colleagues by officials of a task force operating in the area.
The protest entered its second day on Friday after it began on Thursday, affecting commercial transport activities around the Obiri/Ikwerre Flyover and leaving many passengers searching for alternative means of getting to their destinations.
Several minibuses remained off the roads as the protesting drivers insisted that they would not return to work until the authorities addressed their concerns and justice was served for their injured colleague.
The protest began on Thursday when the drivers reportedly blocked parts of the Obiri/Ikwerre Flyover and nearby roads, triggering heavy traffic along the Choba/Eleme section of the East-West Road.
The resulting gridlock stranded hundreds of commuters, with some passengers forced to abandon vehicles and trek to their destinations.
By Friday morning, the situation around the flyover remained largely unchanged, as groups of drivers gathered at the protest location while commercial activities in the area were disrupted.
Some commuters expressed support for the drivers, saying the allegations against the task force officials should be investigated.
The passengers also accused some task force personnel of allegedly subjecting commercial drivers to harassment and extortion during enforcement operations, as well as using excessive force.
They called on the Rivers State Government to investigate the allegations and ensure that officials responsible for traffic enforcement operate within the law.
The protesting drivers said the incident that triggered the demonstration occurred during a disagreement over a transport ticket.
According to them, task force officials allegedly attempted to seize a driver’s vehicle during the disagreement and pushed him out of the moving bus, causing him to sustain injuries.
The drivers condemned the alleged action, arguing that enforcement activities should not put the lives and safety of motorists and other road users at risk.
They are demanding that the authorities identify and sanction any officials found responsible for the alleged assault.
The protesters are also calling for reforms in the operations of task force personnel, alleging that commercial drivers have repeatedly faced harassment in the course of their daily activities.
The drivers maintained that they would continue their protest until their demands are addressed.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the task force nor the Rivers State Government had publicly responded to the allegations.
The continued protest around the Obiri/Ikwerre Flyover has meanwhile disrupted transportation in the area, with commuters continuing to bear the impact of the reduced number of commercial vehicles on the road.