Hoodlums have set a truck loaded N30 million-worth motorcycle spare parts heading to Kogi ablaze.
The vehicle, conveying spare parts from Nnewi in Anambra to Kabbar in Kogi, was burnt at Eluagu, Obupka, in Nsukka LGA, at about 6.35 a.m on Monday.
An eye witness, who pleaded anonymity, said six masked persons doused the vehicle with fuel and set it ablaze.
“These hoodlums were chasing some tricycle operators picking passengers on that road when they saw the vehicle parked along the road. Nobody was inside that vehicle when the hoodlums set it ablaze. I suspected the driver ran away,” he said.
Fabian Eze, the vehicle’s driver, said he left Nnewi on Sunday night, parked in Eluagu by 6:00 a.m. for fear of being attacked by IPOB members over Monday’s sit-at-home order.
“I parked the vehicle, my conductor and I left to find where we could find something to eat. From where we were looking for something to eat, we heard people running from the main road shouting that a big vehicle parked on the main road had been set on fire by hoodlums. My conductor and I rushed to the main road only to see our vehicle was completely burnt.
Mr Eze said he lost all the spare parts in the vehicle to fire.
“Even the N210,000 in the vehicle we are using to run expenses also got burnt. The spare parts in the vehicle belonged to many spare parts traders in Kabba in Kogi state, worth about N30 million.
“I am afraid, the owners of the vehicle and spare parts will tell me to pay for the burnt vehicle and spare parts,” he said.
The driver added that he left Nnewi on Sunday, hoping to reach Kabba before 5:00 a.m. on Monday.
The police spokesman in Enugu Command, Daniel Ndukwe, also confirmed the incident.
“Information surrounding the truck found on fire this Monday morning at Eluagu, Obukpa, in Nsukka LGA is sketchy. The command is yet to receive any formal report of the incident,” Mr Ndukwe explained.
(NAN)