The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has strongly condemned the relentless attacks on truck drivers transporting goods from the North to the South-East, allegedly perpetrated by criminal groups. In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, described the assaults as “vicious and unprovoked,” warning that the escalating violence could plunge the nation into deeper security turmoil.
According to the ACF, heavy-duty trucks en route to the South-East have become prime targets, with drivers brutally killed, vehicles torched, and goods looted. The forum accused security agencies and the federal government of failing to curb the growing menace, warning that national unity is at stake.
“These attacks are being brazenly carried out by armed groups who openly identify with terror outfits such as the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The targets are exclusively northern drivers and northern-owned assets,” the statement read.
The ACF emphasized that the assailants not only carry out these gruesome acts but also document their atrocities on social media, gloating over their victims. They highlighted a disturbing trend where corpses of murdered truckers are set ablaze, creating an atmosphere of terror.
In response to these attacks, members of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) recently staged a massive protest in Jos, Plateau State, drawing attention to the plight of northern transporters. The unions disclosed that over 50 drivers have been killed and approximately 100 trailers destroyed in the past eight years.
The ACF further warned that if the situation persists, transport unions may be forced to halt the haulage of goods to and from the South-East, a move that could cripple economic activities and worsen food shortages.
Expressing deep concern over the silence of national security agencies, the federal government, and South-East leaders, the ACF asserted that no individual or group should have a free pass to commit murder, looting, arson, and vandalism against innocent citizens.
“At the very minimum, the perpetrators of these heinous crimes must be apprehended and brought to justice. Authorities must declare a state of emergency on the matter to prevent a total breakdown of law and order,” the statement declared.
Furthermore, the ACF demanded full compensation from the governments of Enugu and Imo states for the lives lost, injuries sustained, and goods destroyed in the attacks.
The forum extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and urged the federal and state governments to take decisive action against the attackers. It also called on South-East political leaders, elites, and socio-cultural groups to break their silence and unequivocally condemn the barbaric acts.
The ACF warned that failure to act swiftly could set the stage for a larger national crisis, urging security agencies to prioritize the protection of lives and property before the situation spirals out of control.
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