In an effort to secure prompt justice for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) driver who was allegedly killed by a soldier near the Gambarou International Road in Borno State, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has Address the Press urging the military to act.
The governor declared that the excesses of soldiers who kill and demand money from drivers on the road would not be allowed, speaking to a press conference through the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Bukar Tijjani.
He mentioned that the state government had contacted military leadership and that an inquiry had been started.
“We clearly told the military that it’s not a matter of consoling the deceased’s family, because the theatre commandant told me that the soldier was arrested in Dikwa and currently detained in Maiduguri, and we are both investigating the matter.
“All these drivers plying the road are struggling to earn a livelihood, it’s cruel to stop them and force them to give bribes to not only soldiers but other security operatives that are drafted to protect their lives and property.
“Therefore, we are calling on the leadership of the security operatives to warn their men against extortion and to allow our people to carry out their legal businesses.
“On behalf of His Excellency, the governor, I want to extend his condolences to the family of the deceased, while appealing to the leadership of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to free the road for business activities to resume on the Gambarou road,” he said.
In response to the governor, NURTW Secretary Ahmed Musa stated that the driver was en route to N’djamena, Chad, carrying humanitarian supplies when he was shot and killed by a soldier during a routine checkpoint stop and search.
In the meantime, Lt Colonel Ajemusu Y. Jingina, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 7 Division, Maiduguri, acknowledged receiving a complaint on the truck driver’s death.
