Tanker drivers, Kirikiri residents clash
By victor Ahiuma-Young & Ifeanyi Okolie
THERE was pandemonium Tuesday at Kirikri area of Lagos State, when members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum & Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, clashed with residents over alleged recklessness of the Tanker drivers operating in the area.
But the leadership of PTD said the clash which it claimed left one of its members seriously injured and, was caused by the driver’s refusal to part with money demanded by some residents before passage.
Vanguard gathered that a tanker driver who was alleged to have blocked the entrance into Magbesa street with his truck was beaten up by some residents of the community who had been trying to control the chaotic traffic situation that has become a nightmare since farm tanks and bagging of cement commenced in the hitherto quite community.
A resident of the community told Vanguard on condition of anonymity that the driver fell down as soon as he received few blows and was struggling to stand up.
His colleagues who thought that a charm was used on the driver, allegedly rallied round and invaded the house of a Bale in the community on Agunbiade street, Chief Waheed Somonu whom they thought one of his children was the leader of those that attacked the driver.
Vanguard gathered that it took the intervention of policemen from the Kirikriri police station to prevent the situation from degenerating to serious violence.
Reacting to the incident, Secretary of Lagos Zonal Executive Council of PTD branch of NUPENG, Comrade A. A. Adebayo, alleged that the fracas arose following the refusal of the tanker driver to part with money demanded by the residents.
He told Vanguard that they had met the chiefs, and other groups that have made lifting of products problematic in the area to no avail.
According to him: “We have met with the chiefs, met with the boys themselves, the leaders of the group that call themselves OPC for them to allow us do our job accordingly without molestation because their activities are constituting a lot of dangers to everybody including the community to no avail. The land owners and the OPC would force the tank drivers to pay money demanded. As we speak today, February 22, one of our drivers was beaten and seriously injured this afternoon. He is now in the hospital because he refused to comply to their demand that he must give money before he can be allowed to pass.”
