Panic has returned to the Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway after armed groups carried out a fresh wave of highway attacks, including the killing of a commercial driver in the Eke-Obinagu–Amechi Idodo axis, a stretch of road close to the community linked to the residence of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah.
The incident, which occurred during a night operation, involved a Toyota Sienna commercial bus traveling from Lagos toward Abakaliki. Witness accounts from transport workers indicate that armed men intercepted the vehicle, forced passengers to surrender valuables, and shot the driver during the attack.
Local transport union members say the victim was part of a long-distance commercial route connecting the South-West and South-East before the assault cut the journey short.
The latest attack is one of several reported along the corridor in recent weeks, reviving fears among motorists who say the road had experienced a period of relative calm following the disruption of illegal roadside checkpoints in past years.
Some drivers have since protested by temporarily blocking sections of the expressway, demanding increased security presence and faster response from authorities.
Attention has also shifted to the conduct of security operatives along the route. Drivers accuse elements within the Nigeria Police Force of operating multiple checkpoints at night and early morning hours, which they say have created opportunities for both extortion and criminal impersonation.
One commercial driver described a pattern in which attackers allegedly exploit checkpoint locations to stop vehicles more easily, sometimes posing as uniformed officers before carrying out robberies. These claims have not been independently verified.
Transport operators say the most affected period is between evening hours and early morning, when commercial vehicles carrying goods from major trading hubs are frequently targeted.
Some drivers also argue that worsening economic conditions have contributed to the resurgence of violent roadside crime, though this remains a disputed explanation among stakeholders.
Authorities have yet to issue a detailed public update on the latest killing. Repeated attempts to reach the police spokesperson for Enugu State for comment were not successful at the time of filing this report.
The renewed attacks have left transport unions warning of possible disruptions along one of the region’s key commercial routes if security conditions do not improve.
