VIDEO: Driver Slumps In Abakaliki After Alleged Beating By Agberos, Four Arrested

VIDEO: Driver Slumps In Abakaliki After Alleged Beating By Agberos, Four Arrested

Tension has gripped residents of Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, after a commercial driver reportedly slumped and lost consciousness following a brutal assault by suspected transport union touts, popularly known as Agberos.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, at the busy Presco Junction, caused chaos as passersby and fellow drivers gathered around the victim, demanding justice. Eyewitnesses said the driver, identified simply as Chukwudi, was attacked by a group of touts over an alleged refusal to pay a daily “loading fee.”

According to one of the witnesses, the argument began when the Agberos confronted the driver for allegedly “owing” ₦500, a fee often collected forcefully from drivers within the Abakaliki motor park area.

> “The driver told them he had already paid earlier, but they insisted he must pay again. One of them slapped him, and before we knew it, others joined. They kept beating him until he collapsed,” an eyewitness told reporters.

The sudden collapse of the driver threw the area into panic, prompting an immediate intervention by onlookers who rushed him to the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FETHA) for urgent medical attention.

Confirming the incident, the Ebonyi State Police Command said four suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack. Police spokesperson, DSP Joshua Ukandu, noted that investigations have commenced to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the assault and to ensure that all those involved face the law.

> “We can confirm that four individuals have been arrested in relation to the incident at Presco Junction. The victim is currently receiving medical care, and we assure the public that justice will be served,” Ukandu stated.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Government has condemned the attack, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable. In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Transport, the government vowed to clamp down on touts extorting money from commercial drivers and commuters across the state.

> “This administration will not tolerate lawlessness in any form. We will ensure that all those responsible are prosecuted and that sanity returns to our transport system,” the statement read.

The incident has reignited public outcry over the activities of Agberos in various parts of the country, with many calling for total reform of transport unions and stricter enforcement against street extortion.

As of the time of filing this report, the victim’s condition remains critical, while police patrol teams have been deployed to major parks in Abakaliki to prevent further breakdown of law and order.