Protesting articulated vehicle drivers have blocked both sides of the Enugu-Makurdi highway at the Oturkpa axis causing complete gridlock. Movement of vehicles from the South East and South South states as well as those from the Northern part of the country including Abuja going towards the South East and South South have been stalled.
Vehicles are at a standstill at both ends of the roads stretched to upwards of four kilometres and commuters are lamenting the ugly situation.
Signaturetv.org correspondent who is stranded at the Enugu end of the road reports that the articulated vehicle drivers are protesting the assault on one of their drivers whose vehicle was thrown nail spikes by revenue collectors from Benue State, stationed by the Oturkpa area of Benue State.
According to him, the revenue collectors threw the nail spikes on the truck and it burst one of the tyres of the vehicle. Some others truck drivers on that route descended on the revenue collectors, insisting that they pay the some N100,000 for the destroyed tyre.
Our correspondent, however, states that some police officials and other security operatives around the area have come to mediate in the matter.
Meanwhile, the articulated truck drivers blocked both lanes of the Enugu Makurdi Highway at the Oturkpa axis causing heavy gridlock and absolute standstill at the two sides of the road. He said that motorists who understand the terrain are making detour, going through narrow village roads and pathways to either go back to the nearest urban area or continue their journeys.
Motorists who are on their way to the Oturkpa axis from the Northern or Southern parts of the country are advised to take alternative routes to avoid the gridlock.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps are enjoined to go to the area and help free the roads to enable commuters plying the roads get to their destinations.