The Port Harcourt Riders Logistics Association has called for a thorough investigation following the tragic death of one of their members, Udo Abasi, who was reportedly killed by a sand-carrying truck on Elioparanwo Road last Thursday afternoon.
The association’s Director of Welfare 3, Ubong Idomese Friday, who spoke to journalists, described the incident, stating that Udo Abasi was not riding his motorcycle at the time but had his bike parked on the road.
According to Ubong, the driver of the truck left his lane and struck Abasi, where he was parked, making the incident all the more shocking to the riders.
According to Ubong, the driver of the truck left his lane and struck Abasi, where he was parked, making the incident all the more shocking to the riders.
“He was a very gentle person, someone who did not support violence,” Ubong said. “He was always the one who calmed us down, so this loss is very painful to us.”
The killing follows a similar recent incident on Eliozu Road where another rider, who was also parked, was fatally hit by a vehicle that crossed lanes to hit him.
In response to the latest tragedy, members of the Riders Logistics Association gathered in large numbers to demand justice and push for action from the Nigerian Police Force and the government.
Ubong explained, “We want to create awareness and ensure this matter reaches the Police Commissioner and officials who can intervene. Otherwise, these incidents would be taken lightly.”
Eyewitness accounts indicate that after the accident, the driver of the sand truck fled the scene, prompting anger among onlookers.
While some members of the group reportedly vandalized the vehicle in response, Ubong could not confirm who exactly was responsible for the damage.
When police attempted to place the victim’s body in a van, protests erupted among the riders, who were visibly agitated by how the situation was being handled.
An eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity said he saw the tipper truck speeding from the Car Wash side, veered off its lane, and collided with the stationary motorbike with the rider standing by.
He reported that the driver lost control, leaving his arm outside the vehicle as he approached the motorcyclist, who remained in his lane.
Despite initial confrontation, the driver fled briefly but soon alerted the police. The victim died on the spot, and tensions escalated as police focused first on securing the vehicle rather than attending to the injured, leading to anger among bystanders who vandalized the tipper.
The victim’s phone was retrieved to inform his friends, confirming he was actively working at the time of the collision. Police arrived within half an hour to manage the situation.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer at the Elioparanwo Police Post was seen addressing the angry dispatch riders, assuring that no stone would be left unturned to investigate the incident and bring the killer to book.
The Port Harcourt Riders Logistics Association is urging the authorities to expedite investigations and bring the driver to justice, hoping to prevent further loss of lives in similar circumstances.