Protesting Youths Block Highway Over Kidnappings, Poor Infrastructure In Edo

Hundred of youths on Wednesday blocked the Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo Road of Edo State, protesting the dilapidated state of the road which they said has resulted in high rate of kidnapping and poor infrastructure.

The protesters complained that kidnapping had become a daily occurrence due to the bad roads and for lacking adequate infrastructure.

They also decried that political office holders from the area were not sensitive to the plights of the people.

The protest created gridlocks on the road as travelers, including heavy-duty vehicles along the road, were stalled for several hours.

The youths also lamented that a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Okasime Olowojoba who was kidnapped for almost a month was yet to be released despite paying over N5 million ransom.

One of the protesters, Paul Lawani, said that, “We cannot continue to be slaves in our country, the government should come and tell us what they are doing.

“Akoko-Edo local government area has three General Hospitals and none is functioning well. What is clear is that our colonial government knew the large size of Akoko-Edo that is why sited three General Hospitals. Today, Akoko-Edo is ripe for a military base, yet we have these bases in areas that may not necessarily need them.”

He called on the state government to explain what it intends to do about the road and kidnappings in the area.

“One of our brothers has been with the kidnappers for almost one month; they have collected money in millions, they are yet to release him,” Lawani lamented.

The protesters also accused the security agents posted to the area of not taking their job seriously, vowing to continue the protest until the state government attended to them.

It took the intervention of the Otaru of Igarra, Oba Adehce Saiki who sent emissaries to the protesters before they reopened the road for traffic.

The traditional ruler assured that he had written to the state government on the poor state of the road and level of kidnappings.