Hundreds of angry youths in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State on Wednesday blocked the Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo highway to protest the rising cases of kidnapping and the poor state of roads in their communities.
The protesters said the bad roads have made it easy for kidnappers to operate freely, putting residents and travelers at constant risk. They accused political leaders of ignoring the suffering of the people and failing to provide basic infrastructure.
The protest, which started early in the day, caused heavy gridlock on the highway, leaving many travelers and heavy-duty vehicles stranded for hours.
One of the protesters, Paul Lawani, said the security situation had become unbearable. “We cannot continue to be slaves in our own land. Our people are being kidnapped daily because of these terrible roads, and the government is doing nothing,” he said.
The protesters also cited the case of Okasime Olowojoba, a chieftain of the Labour Party, who has been in captivity for nearly a month despite over N5 million already paid to his abductors.
They also expressed frustration over the state of healthcare in the area. “Akoko-Edo has three general hospitals, and none is working properly. This area needs serious attention. We even deserve a military base here,” Lawani added.
They called out both the local and state governments, demanding immediate steps to fix the roads and improve security. The protesters accused security agencies of failing to protect the people and vowed to continue the protest until something is done.
The road was eventually reopened after the traditional ruler of Igarra, the Otaru of Igarra, Oba Adeche Saiki, sent emissaries to calm the youths. The monarch was said to have also written to the Edo State Government about the worsening road conditions and rising insecurity in the area.
As of press time, there has been no official response from the Edo State Government.
