A 25-year-old man, Mr. Micheal Chimezie Okorie, was on Sunday allegedly killed by suspected revenue collectors at the popular head bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The deceased, a driver of an articulated truck was reportedly being pursued by the suspected revenue collectors stationed at the head bridge when he suddenly lost control and crashed into a concrete barricade in the area.
The incident reportedly caused heavy traffic gridlock in the area as hundreds of aggrieved youths blocked the highway with bonfires.
Echo News gathered that the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, in a statement, confirmed the incident, saying the Commissioner of Police, John Abang, has ordered for a full scale investigation into the matter.
The statement reads: “On 6/12/2020 at about 4:AM, there was a report of fatal motor vehicle accident along Asaba/Onitsha Expressway by Coca-Cola market, Onitsha involving a Mercedes Benz 911 Lorry with Registration No ACA -178-XA loaded with timber and driven by one Micheal Chimezie Okorie ‘m’, aged 25years of Oduma in Aninri LGA of Enugu State.
“The accident occured when the truck driver who was allegedly being pursued by suspected ‘revenue collectors’ stationed at Head bridge, Onitsha suddenly lost control and crashed into the concrete barricade near Coca-Cola Market.
“As a result, the driver of the lorry became unconscious and was rushed to Toronto Hospital by Police Patrol team attached to Okpoko Division where he was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor on duty. Corpse photographed and deposited at same Hospital morgue for post mortem examination.
“However, following the incident, aggrieved youths in their hundreds went on rampage and blocked the highway, setting bonfires on the road, but were later persuaded to disperse through the joint efforts of the police, union leaders and state government officials.
