Imo: Truck drivers block roads over alleged harassment, extortion by govt taskforce

Published

1 year ago

August 15, 2024

There was traffic gridlock in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Thursday following blockade of the Owerri/Port Harcourt road and Owerri/Onitsha road by truck drivers protesting what they described as incessant harassment and extortion by operatives of the taskforce on illegal parks in the state.

Operating under the auspices of Trailer Drivers Association, the group lamented that some of their members’ vehicles were impounded by the task force headed by the Special Adviser to the governor on Illegal Parks, Frank Onwumere, and his boys since four months for no justifiable reason.

Speaking to journalists during the protest, one of the leaders of the Trailer Drivers Association, who identified himself as Monday Ossai, who operates from Oneh Seaport, Rivers State, explained that they blocked the two roads within Owerri Municipal to draw the attention of government to the harassment and extortion of their members.

The accused Onwumere of tarnishing the image of the governor who they said meant well for the people of the state.

“Truck drivers are very depressed as Hon. Frank Onwumere and his boys do not allow us to operate freely on the road in Imo State, day and night. Regrettably, the mistreatment that badly affected us was the seizure, impounding of our members’ vehicles by Onwumere and his team for four months, including the demand of N250,000 with clearance paper of road worthiness of our vehicles.

“Onwumere heartlessly told us that we must pay N250,000 before our vehicles are released – that truck drivers in Rivers and Lagos States pay N250,000 and N350,000 respectively” he said.

Ossai said that in order to restore sanity, law and orderliness on the road, they are calling on the governor to immediately sack Onwumere and bring in someone with human face to do the work to avoid tarnishing his image.

The drivers also demanded quick intervention on the badly damaged Port Harcourt Expressway and other deplorable roads in the state to ease traffic.

Also speaking, a truck driver who gave his name as Aliyu Haruna said that they don’t encounter problems in other states, and it is only when they enter Imo roads that problem always starts.

“They said that we should not ply the roads during daytime which we agreed but the problem is at that time we are supposed to make use of the roads there is always a blockade by the military at Obinze once it is 9:00 pm,”
he complained.

Addressing the aggrieved trailer drivers during an on-the-spot assessment, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, authorized the immediate release of all impounded vehicles, which were subsequently returned to their owners.

The Chief of Staff said government would never authorize any appointee to victimize any citizen, saying some of the spoilt trailers parts would be fixed.

He also assured that the alleged harassment and extortion by Onwumere would be investigated.

Reacting to the allegations levelled against him, Onwumere said his actions and that of his team are fully in line with the directives given to him by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

“My responsibility as the Special Adviser on Illegal Parks is to ensure that our roads are free from illegal obstructions by addressing issues that affect the smooth flow of traffic and safety of road users,” he said.

Onwumere further said that what his team is doing is not peculiar to Imo State.

“For example, would trailer or tanker drivers dare to act with such disregard for traffic regulations in Abuja or Lagos? Certainly not. Yet in Imo State, some people believe they can park their vehicles carelessly and go about their businesses without considering the rules of traffic.”

He accused the truck drivers of being in the habit of flouting traffic orders, stressing that there is a new law in the state prohibiting them from plying Imo roads at day time till 9:00 pm. He regretted that the truck drivers are finding it difficult to obey the law.

The SA observed that those attacking him are those opposed to the achievements recorded by his team, adding that they are trying to discourage him from doing his job as directed by the governor.

“In the course of our work we have consistently encountered menace of armed robbers who specialized in luring innocent citizens into their vehicles and rob them of their valuables. It is through the diligent work of my office that we have been able to save countless Imo citizens,” Onwumere added.

Gunmen k!ll President General of Ogidi community and one other in Anambra.

Published

6 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, have k!lled a community leader and one other person in Anambra State.

The President-General of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ikwuka Okoye, popularly known as Anumili (pictured above), was k!lled on Friday, Feb. 6.

The attack was alleged to have been carried out by members of a rival cult group in revenge for the de@th of their leader, who was arrested and k!lled by local security operatives.

During the attack, which took place at the School Field, Ogidi, another man whose identity has yet to be ascertained was also gunned down.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Saturday.

Ikenga said the incident is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command regrets the murd£r of the President-General of the Ogidi community and one other person. The incident, which occurred on the evening of February 6, 2026, at the School Field, Ogidi, is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

“Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations. The command is currently working with eyewitness accounts and other available intelligence to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

“The Anambra State Police Command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.

“Residents are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continue.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”

Police bust syndicate behind nude photo blackmail in Lagos

Published

21 hours ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, have apprehended three suspects who allegedly run a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in the state.

According to the spokesperson of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects get a hold of their victims explicit photos and then threaten to release them if a ransom is not paid.

He said that the suspects, two males and a female, were apprehended after a petition was filed by a complainant who reported being repeatedly threatened by unknown individuals demanding money.

“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them. Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.

The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said

The police imagemaker state dthat upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the matter.

“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device. Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches,” he said

According to him, the suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The image maker said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover all proceeds of the alleged crime.

Catholic Priest Collapses And D!es In Front Of Congregation While Walking To Tabernacle To Return Holy Communion

Published

1 day ago

February 6, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

A Catholic priest has tragically passed away after suddenly collapsing in front of the congregation during Sunday mass.

The tragic incident took place last Sunday, February 1 in Wiesmath in the district of Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Shortly after administering Holy Communion, 59-year-old priest Raimund Beisteiner was about to return the host to the tabernacle when he “suddenly” collapsed, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Vienna.

“Despite immediate professional assistance, he di£d in the church,” the statement said.

The mayor of Wiesmath, Erich Rasner, had also attended the Mass with many other believers and witnessed the dramatic scenes.

The shock in Wiesmath at the loss of the popular priest is great. Beisteiner had shaped the spiritual life of the parish for almost two decades and was highly regarded far beyond the community.

Rasner praised him as an “extremely conscientious, sensitive priest” and also emphasized the personal loss of a friendship that had grown over many years.

A prayer service was organized at short notice for the late priest. It was attended by numerous priests from the deanery as well as Archbishop Josef Grünwidl.