1K
No fewer than 15 persons received various degree of injuries, goods worth millions of naira, looted, many vehicles touched in Onitsha, Anambra state as two transport factional groups clash over multiple levies.
Trouble started when the leader of the Asaba/Onitsha unit of the urban drivers unit, Chief Peter Jindu a.k.a ‘Pikolo’ led group of angry mobs to the Onitsha and Asaba end of bridge head shutting down the route to Onitsha and Asaba.
The crisis left traders and other passengers who came to buy and sale from and to the two sister states, to trek several kilometers for the four days period of the protest.
It was gathered that it developed into escalating crisis as factions of the group mobilized for work leading to free for all. Hoodlums took the advantage to barge into G.U.O transport office of the Anambra born transport Mogul and carted away goods, cash and other valuables worth millions of naira.
Narrating his ordeal a security officer attached to the G.U.O office at the Asaba end of the bridge head under condition of anonimity who did not want his alleged that the hoodlum came in their numbers at about 3pm blocking their office and buses fully loaded with passengers and subsequently attacked them and the staff of the company and made away with valuables and cash.
When contacted, Chairman of G.U.O group, Chief G.U Okeke accused Mr Jindu of instigating trouble between the two sister states.
He said that the leadership of the unit at Onitsha and Asaba are having disagreement over settlement.
“And when I heard about the crisis I invited them and from the interaction I discovered that the said Jindu according to the alligation was demanding that my manager at the Onitsha park will be paying him N 20,000 daily instead of N 3,000.
“The said jindu was newly elected chairman of the unit in Asaba”. I discovered also that he was looking for his own selfish interest and because of that he deceived his groups at Asaba who ply Onitsha/Asaba route and alleged that the Anambra State government is imposing on them multiple taxation”.
“He alleged during the meeting that each bus pay N6,600 each trip in Onitsha alone”. But looking at the total money each bus collect in each trip it is not up to N 600 not alone N 6,600.
“They also informed me that when my manager refused his demand he went and wrote a petition to the Anambra State Government and we were invited at Awka by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Christian Madubuko.
“And after the meeting, the commissioner instructed my workers not to take to violence.
“The next thing he did was to organize thugs and miscreants to shut down transport from Asaba to Onitssha. As if that was not enough they took that advantage of the crisis to attack my office and vandalized my properties. “
I’ve lodged a complaint to the Delta state police command and they are now investigating the matter,” Okeke said.
Meanwhile the state chairman of the Anambra State park management, Chief Godwin Ibekwe and other members of the management have described the act as Economic Sabortage against Delta and Anambra state governments.
Ibekwe said Anambra and Delta states don’t operate their transport system the same way.
“While Delta operate with the members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW), it is prohibited and proscribed in Anambra state.
He said ‘Pikolo’ was a member of the Urban Drivers Welfare and when they had disagreement in Onitsha he went to Asaba and formed his own group and he was later elected chairman not up to three months.
He described Pikolo claims as white lie, pointing out that Anambra state has a unified transport ticket and nobody imposes any taxation on the drivers.
He explained that the present Anambra state government has zero tolerance for any act of banditry, alleging that they are looking for crisis so that armed robbers and one chance syndicate would seize the opportunity to penetrate into Anambra state again.
He however expressed the hope that the state is ready to square it up with anybody who want to disrupt the peace in the state.
When contacted on phone call, Chief Jindu a.k.a pikolo insisted that his members are being levied multiple tax in Onitsha.
He alleged that they pay money at every loading pit in Onitsha and in each trip the drivers pay outrageous.
He also denied asking the Onitsha manager of the Asaba park to pay him N20,000 daily. “ What I am asking is that we have a unified ticket. Anybody who told you I am demanding money, God will punish him”. he said.
Meanwhile the police in Delta state said they were investigating the matter.
The Police Public Relation Officer of State Police Command, DSP Oneme Onovakpoyeya said the command will ensure that the culprits are arrested and brought to book.