By Michael Chidi

Commercial drivers in Owerri, Imo State, have united in a mass-call for Governor Hope Uzodimma to immediately dismiss his Special Adviser on Motor Parks Supervision and Illegal Parks, Hon. Pastor Frank Onwumere.

This demand follows an incident involving Mr. Innocent Onyenanu, a commercial driver, who was reportedly assaulted by Onwumere’s taskforce team.

According to reports, Mr. Onyenanu was brutally beaten by the taskforce team enforcing traffic rules on Tuesday 13th August,2024 along Douglas Road, Owerri.

This ugly drama according to eyewitness ignited immediate the victim tried to resist the taskforce team from collecting his vehicle key so as to impound his mini commercial bus for violating traffic law.

The eyewitness narrated that the taskforce team accompanied by heavily armed police officers beat the bus driver until he lost conscious and they thereafter whisked him out of the scene and abandoned his busimo on the road.

While another source revealed that a bystander later rushed Mr. Onyenanu to Umuzuruike Hospital in Owerri, where he was diagnosed with multiple internal injuries, including severe chest trauma.

“Despite the severity of his injuries, neither Hon. Onwumere nor his team has visited the hospital or offered assistance.
The victim’s hospital bills amount to approximately ₦84,000, which he cannot afford”.

Mr. Onyenanu when spotted by our reporter at Umezuruike Hospital, Owerri on Wednesday,recounted his ordeal from his hospital bed, expressing frustration with the impunity and high-handedness exhibited by those claiming to represent Governor Uzodimma.

“I know the traffic rules and regulations. I have been driving for many years. I didn’t violate any rule, but they jumped into my bus and started dragging my car keys.
“When I refused, they beat me up from Douglas Road to their office at Heroes Square. I collapsed and nearly died until a good samaritan rushed me to the hospital;

“I am still undergoing treatment, but the doctor says I need X-rays, scans, and tests to determine the extent of my injuries”, Onyenanu lamented.

Adding to his woes, Mr. Onyenanu claimed that the taskforce team stole ₦8,000 from his pocket and took his car keys.

He appealed to Governor Uzodimma to intervene, urging the governor to ensure that Hon.Onwumere settles his hospital bills, returns his car, refunds the stolen money, and faces dismissal.

“I am calling on Governor Uzodimma to sack him immediately before he causes more harm in the name of the government.”

Furthermore, drivers have accused Hon. Onwumere and his team of turning Heroes Square in Owerri into a den of extortion, allegedly generating revenue for personal gain rather than for the state, as claimed in the Imo Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) financial statements.

The commercial drivers’ plea is clear: before his dismissal, Hon. Onwumere must address the hospital bills of Mr. Onyenanu, return his car, refund the stolen ₦8,000, and then face the consequences of his actions.

Meanwhile, in a related development , the same Onwumere in his unchanging reign of impunity, high-handedness and harassment bartered and injured a certain commercial driver whose name was not disclosed for security reasons faced heights of humiliation at Heroes Square when his bus was contravened by Frank’s Taskforce Team who mercilessly injured the drivers as his body was soaked with blood.