Nigerian association of Road Transport owners and operators in the haulage industry have cried out over unchecked activities of hoodlums on the Apapa-Ijora and Tincan-Mile 2 areas in Lagos State often cause the death of about 40 of their members annually.
According to the Transport Association, these individuals, commonly referred to as “area boys,” have created a dangerous environment for truck drivers, significantly impacting the trucking business and the nation’s economy negatively.
The Executive Secretary of NARTO, Mr Aloga Ogbogo, in his statement said the violet means often employed by these hoodlums usually escalate to physical assaults, as drivers are beaten up, trucks vandalised, and valuable cargo sometimes stolen
Explaining further, he said when the hoodlums approach the drivers, they get on the trucks and start attacking the drivers, “asking for money and distracting you.
According to the secretary, “Sometimes the area boys or commonly callled (AGBERO) even go ahead to pull the gasoline supply to the trucks to ensure that the truck comes to a standstill. When that happens, it causes unnecessary hold-ups, because the truck would ordinarily block the road.”
Ogbogo continued, “They (hoodlums) break the windscreen of the truck, attack the driver; and bring the vehicle to a halt. These activities are negatively impacting the trucking business and the drivers.”
Furthermore, Ogbogo said when the hoodlums approach the drivers, they get on the trucks and start attacking the drivers, “asking for money and distracting the driver.
“Sometimes they even go ahead to pull the gasoline supply to the trucks to ensure that the truck comes to a standstill. When that happens, it causes unnecessary hold-ups, because the truck would block the road.”
Ogbogo continued, “They (hoodlums) break the windscreen of the truck, attack the driver; and bring the vehicle to a halt. These activities are negatively impacting the trucking business and the drivers.”
He said these activities result in not only a disruption of logistics and supply chains but also a significant financial burden on truck owners who must repair damaged vehicles and compensate injured drivers.
Ogbogo stated that these numbers reflect only a portion of the true toll, as many incidents go unreported due to the lack of proper documentation and attacks on the drivers.
He added that the psychological impact on the drivers who survive these attacks is profound as they live in constant fear of being assaulted or killed on the job, which takes a toll on their mental health and overall well-being.
Ogbogo said a lot of drivers suffer from anxiety and stress, knowing that each trip could be their last, with the ripple effect extending to their families, who must cope with the loss or incapacitation of their primary breadwinners.
