Operators in the haulage industry including members of the Nigerian

Association of Road Transport Owners, have alleged that, the unchecked

activities of hoodlums on the Apapa-Ijora and Tincan-Mile 2 areas in Lagos

State often cause the death of about 40 of their members annually.

According to them, the individuals, commonly referred to as “area boys,”

have created a dangerous environment for truck drivers, significantly

impacting the trucking business and the nation’s economy adversely.

The Executive Secretary of NARTO, Aloga Ogbogo, said the violent tactics

often employed by these hoodlums usually escalate to physical assaults, as

drivers are beaten up, trucks vandalized, and valuable cargo sometimes

stolen, adding that, when the hoodlums approach the drivers, they get on

the trucks and start attacking the drivers, “asking for money and distracting

them.

He said, the activities result in not only a disruption of logistics and supply

chains but also a significant financial burden on truck owners who must

repair damaged vehicles and compensate injured drivers, adding that, the

numbers reflect only a portion of the true toll, as many incidents go

unreported due to the lack of proper documentation and attacks on the

drivers.

He also said, the psychological impact on the drivers who survive these

attacks is profound as they live in constant fear of being assaulted or killed

on the job, which takes a toll on their mental health and overall well-being,

adding that, many drivers suffer from anxiety and stress, knowing that each

trip could be their last, with the ripple effect extending to their families, who

must cope with the loss or incapacitation of their primary breadwinners.