The Joint Drivers Welfare Association of Nigeria has said that its strike action continues till November 6, 2022.
The PUNCH reports that the drivers in Lagos State embarked on a boycott on Monday, October 31, 2022, over extortions on the roads allegedly by the motor parks and garages management in the state.
In a statement, Monday evening, signed by its National Leader, Akintade Abiodun, JDWAN commended its members and Lagosians for their support while condemning the alleged attack on a member, Ashimiyu Idowu, who was later reportedly released.
“Kudos to all commercial drivers in Lagos State for the massive compliance to the seven-day boycott. We also want to thank the commuters and residents of Lagos for their support thus far. We have all come to the full understanding of the impact of the forceful, illegal, ludicrous, unjust ticketing, levies and charges by the Parks and Garages Management Committee and caretaker committee.
“We can no longer continue to be subservient to people who have made life unbearable for us all and directly affects the cost of transportation, goods and services in Lagos.
“We have explicitly made our points clear in our demands and we are expecting the Lagos State government to accede to our demands by stopping exploitation of our labour and violent violation of our rights and restraining court order against the motor park management and caretaker committee thugs in Lagos.
“Today, October 31, 2022, being the first day of our seven-day boycott, we have experienced physical attacks, vandalisation of our vehicles and homes and criminal abduction of our member,” the statement partly read.
“One commercial drivers, a member of JDWAN, Ashimiyu Idowu, was abducted in Iworo area of Badagry as motor park and caretaker thugs led by Telliat Gbadamosi who is the Chairman, motor park management from Agbara to seme route. Telliat came alongside Suleiman Adesina popularly known as Jafo Authority (Oniba of iba).
“The Agberos had over 100 bikes with three thugs on each bike wielding machetes and guns, they shot sporadically to scare members of the communities away. After the abduction, they faced seme area and dared any driver to stop them. Many vehicles were vandalised during the operation and we are yet to hear from the abductees.
“In Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State, drivers were beaten by multitude of motor park thugs and caretaker committee thugs over the boycott while they marched chanting “where are the other drivers?”. Same broad daylight hunt of commercial drivers was spotted by our members in Iyana Era area of Badagry.
“At Roundabout bus stop, Ijaniki, precisely in front Lagos State University of Education, two drivers of mini bus (korope) observing the the boycott were flogged and brutally attacked where they parked their buses by the motor park management thugs and their buses were driven away because they refuse to work,” JDWAN alleged.
“The coalition of Lagos commercial drivers under the umbrella of JDWAN wants to say categorically to the state government and its violent extortion agents that we are not afraid of any threat. No matter how long they violate the restraining order against the government by Honorable Justice Peter Odo LIFU. We remain undaunted and resolute till all our demands are met,” it added.
JDWAN asked the state government to “arrest its workers (those behind the alleged attacks and abduction) and be charged to court immediately for assault and kidnap. All vehicles vandalised must be repaired and all vehicles driven away must be returned back.”
“We once again salute the unity and steadfastness of our members, we call on all other professionals, honest labourers, workers and unions to join us tomorrow, November 1, 2022, so as to avoid being stranded or attacked by these unbridled Lagos State illegal tax collectors,” the statement concluded.
Following the strike, there were limited commercial vehicles on the road, with hike in fare and stranded commuters recorded in some Lagos parts on Monday.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, on the alleged attack and abduction proved abortive as his known line did not go through neither had he yet to respond to text messages sent by our correspondent.
