EXTORTION : Policemen Attached To PTT Shot 2 Truckers At TCIP

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the controversial Presidential Taskforce Team on Apapa traffic , Tuesday  allegedly shot two truck drivers at the ever busy Abuja Park entry point, along Tin Can Island Port , Lagos.

It was gathered that the drivers are currently in an undisclosed hospital with bullet wounds .

DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA also confirmed that while one of the drivers had sustained bullet wound on his hand, the other had his own bullet on the leg.

The incident it was gathered occurred on the wee hours of Tuesday.

Truckers had earlier (Wednesday) accused personnel of the RORO and Tin Can Island Port Police Divisions respectively as to be responsible for incident but sources confirmed that the operation was carried out by cops attached to the Presidential Taskforce.

While our correspondent was told that the Police personnel attached to the Kayode Opeifa led taskforce team, had attempted to extort the drivers, it was also alleged that the resistance from the drivers led to accidental discharge by the officer who is currently at large.

Officials from the two police divisions at Tin Can Island Port who spoke to our correspondent denied knowledge of any accidental discharge by personnel of the units on Tuesday , even as they added that such incidents were unreported.

One of the victims , simply identified named Ramon is currently at the hospital.

A cross section of truckers who spoke to our correspondent said the incident happened Tuesday night, saying one of the Police officer and his colleague shot the drivers around Abuja garage.”

They alleged that the cop was demanding a certain amount of money from the drivers in order to allow their empty containers into the port but met stiff resistance from the truckers .

They stated that the drivers stood their ground no to part money but were shot at by the Police personnel.

Meanwhile, our correspondent who spoke with the Port  Facility Security Officer ,Tin Can Island Port of the Nigeria Ports Authority NPA, Olajide Akindele, explained that intelligence report was ongoing to ascertain the unit of security personnel involved in the shooting.

He also confirmed that the shooting of truckers was unconnected to Port Police officials.

Stakeholders in the maritime industry have called for the withdrawal of the PTT
following the lingering traffic situation along the port corridors.

By Roland Ekama