Hundreds of protesters yesterday barricaded the Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo road in Edo State to protest alleged kidnapping and poor state of the road.

The protesters, mainly youths, alleged that kidnapping has become a daily occurrence in the area due to the bad state of the road. 

The youths alleged that a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) in the area, Okasime Olowojoba, was kidnapped on the road over the past three weeks and has not been released even after the family paid N5 million ransom.

Speaking with journalists, one of the protesters, Paul Lawani, lamented that kidnapping has become a daily affair with residents living in fear.

He alleged that the state government has abandoned them to their fate, adding the insecurity in the area is worsened as a result of the bad state of the road in the area.

“As of today, Akoko-Edo is ripe for a military base due to insecurity yet we have these bases in areas without insecurity.

“One of our brothers has been with the kidnappers for almost one month, they have collected ransom in millions, they are yet to release him,” he said.

The protesters were later prevailed upon by the traditional ruler of the area, the Otaru of Igarra, HRH, Oba Adehce Saiki, who sent emissaries to the protesters to open the road for vehicular movement.

Efforts to get the reaction of the state government were unsuccessful, as calls put across to the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo’s spokesperson, Fred Itua, were not answered.