Truckers plying Taraba and Benue routes in northeast Nigeria, occupied the Taraba border with Benue State Monday morning protesting extortion at illegal checkpoints on the route.
The truck drivers complain of extortion at illegal checkpoints by security operatives, who collect ‘levies’ from the drivers transporting food in that part of the country.
The Chairman of the truck drivers, Wukari Branch, Wunuken Hosea, protested that extortion of drivers on the Benue State part of the border is so high and that it is causing an increase in the cost of grains across the country. He said that the operatives have not responded positively in all the dialogue they had.
According to Wunuken Hosea, “Despite dialogues with security operatives and revenue collectors on agricultural produce, the trend has continued unabated with a huge increase in the amount demanded from us.”
The truck drivers Chairman maintained that they are not backing down on the protest and blockade of the road till the authorities respond to their demands.