Micheal Okorie, 25, a truck driver on Sunday lost his life in a lone crash while trying to flee from some illegal road revenue collectors in Onitsha, the commercial town of Anambra, Southeast Nigeria.
Okorie, an indigene of Oduma in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, South East Nigerian crashed his vehicle into a concrete median at the Coca Cola Market area of Enugu-Onitsha expressway within the town.
The incident infuriated some youths who took to the streets to protest the menace of touts who harass motorists in the state without any resistance by the state government.
The angry youth set up burnfires and blocked the highway while brandishing dangerous weapons in protest against the death of the innocent driver.
They were however persuaded to disperse through the joint efforts of the Police, Union leaders and State Government Officials.
Haruna Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police and Command Public Relations Officer in Anambra who confirmed the incident said the driver had been confirmed dead by a medical doctor in the hospital where he was rushed to for treatment.
Mohammed said normalcy had been restored in the area.
“On Dec.6 at about 4 am ,there was a report of a fatal motor vehicle accident along Asaba/Onitsha Expressway by Coca-Cola market Onitsha,” he said in a statement.
“The accident involved a Mercedes Benz 911 Lorry with Registration No ACA -178-XA loaded with timber and driven by one Micheal Chimezie Okorie ‘m’ aged 25years of Oduma in Aninri LGA of Enugu State.”
“The accident occurred when the truck driver who was allegedly being pursued by suspected “revenue collectors” stationed at Head bridge Onitsha suddenly lost control and crashed into the concrete barricade near Coca-Cola Market.
“As a result, the driver of the lorry became unconscious and was rushed to Toronto Hospital by the police patrol team where he was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor on duty.
“Corpse has been deposited at same Hospital morgue for post-mortem examination,” he added.
Mohammed said John Abang, Anambra State Commissioner of Police had ordered for full investigation into the matter.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP John B.Abang, who is deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident has ordered for a full scale investigation into the matter and further assures the public that perpetrators would be arrested and brought to book,” he said.
HumAngle reports that the public transport system in Anambra State was characterised by a high level of touting operating under multiplicity of unions not known outside the state serving the purpose of powerful individuals or groups.
The nationally recognised Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and other legally constituted bodies are not allowed to operate.
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