Batteries of trucks at Benin-Nigeria border go missing

Ghanaian traders stranded at the Benin-Nigeria border have to deal with the menace of theft in their wait to have the border reopen.

Since Friday, August 16, Africa’s populous nation closed its borders in an effort to stop the smuggling of contraband goods into the country.

The move is also to prevent the smuggling of some products, particularly petroleum, from Nigeria.

But the move came as a surprise to many especially truck drivers, who are stuck with their goods at the borders, as there was no prior announcement to that effect.

Those with goods from Nigeria cannot go out while those who had Nigeria-bound goods cannot enter.

Speaking on TV3’s News 360 on Monday, the Spokesperson of the Concerned Cross Country Drivers Association, David Agboada, said about 111 truck drivers are stranded at the Benin-Nigeria border.

According to him, they are among 356 Ghanaians with little hope in sight at the border.

He said other foreign nationals are equally stranded.

Since no one can tell who a good or a bad person is, their ranks have been infiltrated by thieves.

“They are stealing car batteries,” he stated.

Mr Agboada said some have had their goods in the trucks also stolen despite having consistently reported the cases to Beninois border officials.

He said their only alternative will be to return home as authorities’ assurances have not yielded any positive results.

He, however, stated that Ghanaian authorities have informed them that their Nigerian counterparts have requested the registration numbers of Ghanaian trucks stranded at the border in order to allow them entry.

“If after 24 hours, we don’t hear from them, we will take a decision,” he said.

The Nigerian authorities over the weekend hinted that the border closure will last until January, 2020.