Metro

Travellers, Motorists Stranded As Protest Rocks Edo Over Bad Road

Published

2 years ago

October 27, 2023

Travellers and motorists were stranded in Benin, Edo State on Thursday as residents of Ohovbe in the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area protested the poor state of the Benin-Agbor-Onitsha road.

The protest which also grounded commercial activities began subtly on Wednesday but grew on Thursday as travellers and residents were forced to trek long distances to get to their destinations.

Those who could not leave resigned themselves to fate with the hope that the protest would end soon.

Residents of the area were seen playing football on the major road while the other side of the road was blocked with barricades.

A trailer driver, Mr. Omuobi Abuegwu, who left Lagos for Onitsha but was stuck at the middle of the protest in Benin, said he was not even sure of when he would leave the area.

He said, “I have been here since 9am on Wednesday. I have not even moved an inch. The residents are protesting against the bad road. They want the government to fix the road. I have not eaten since I got stuck here and I don’t even know when I will get to Onitsha.

“I blame the Edo State Government. It should have done palliative work on the section that has become a death trap. All Edo State roads are bad including the bypass”, Abuegwu said.

Another driver, Thankgod Ogucha, said he had been stuck in the hold-up for two days.

“I have been here for two days now. The line is not even moving at all. The government should come and fix the bad road. We are suffering. There is no money to buy food to eat”, Ogucha lamented.

A resident of the area, Prince Solomon Nnamdi, said that the government was pushing the people of the state to their limit, which they could no longer tolerate.

He said, “The people have been complaining about the bad state of the road for a long time. They are pushing the people to the limit. So, we are saying that the government should wake up.

“There is money in our country and there is money in the state. Edo State is an oil-producing state. Apart from that, the IGR can do a lot of things in the state to reduce the suffering of the people.

“You can just sit and see things get worse. The government should start somewhere at least patch the roads even if you don’t want to give us a world-class road, make it motorable so that the people can be happy.

“This bad road is affecting food prices in the market. You can see trucks parked here for days. I just saw one Hausa man sleeping under his truck, I then asked him, ‘Why are you sleeping?’ He said they had been here for two days now, sleeping.

“You can see if such a person had foodstuff which he is trying to deliver to another state and they are perishable goods, that will be the end of those goods,” he said.

Metro

JUST IN: Fire Guts Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone In Igbesa

Published

8 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Editor

A fire broke out on Sunday at the Ogun State Guangdong Free Trade Zone in Igbesa.

As of this report, there has been no official statement on what caused the incident. However, a resident said the fire was triggered by a gas explosion from a foam-producing company in the industrial park.

The source added that the fire spread quickly, affecting nearby houses before emergency responders arrived.

Details later…

Metro

AAU Postpones Resumption Date

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has approved, on behalf of the university’s Senate, the postponement of students’ resumption and commencement of academic activities.

In a statement,
Otunba Mike Aladenika,
Head, Information, Public Relations & Protocol, AAU, said the decision became necessary to enable the university to complete ongoing renovation works on student structures and facilities, aimed at enhancing the overall teaching and learning experience.

“According to him, the management is committed to providing a conducive environment for academic excellence and believes that this temporary adjustment will ultimately benefit our students.

“While the university management intends to announce a new resumption date, any student(s) still in our hostels are advised to vacate with immediate effect to allow for effective ongoing renovation works

“In light of this development, the university regrets to announce that the 140th Inaugural Lecture, originally scheduled for Thursday, 15th January 2026, and ongoing examinations have been postponed.

“A new date for the lecture and the completion of the examinations will be communicated to all stakeholders in due course.

“The university appreciates the understanding and cooperation of students, parents, and guardians on this matter.

“We urge all students to adhere to the new resumption date and prepare for a productive academic session.

“Parents and guardians are kindly requested to ensure their children/wards are aware of and comply with the revised resumption schedule.”

Metro

Protest Rocks Ekpoma Over Incessant Kidnapping

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

Residents of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday protested against incessant kidnappings in the area.

Ekpoma, in recent times has been under attack by kidnappers who snatched residents from their homes.

The protest grounded commercial activities as students of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, also joined in the protest.

The protesters, in anger, also pulled down campaign billboards for the 2027 general elections mounted in the university hosting town.

Speaking on the protest, Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Austin Eigbiremolen, assured that adequate security would be deployed to Ekpoma.

According to him, the kidnappers would be chased away from the area in no distance time.

Also reacting to the protest, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, dismissed was top of the security situation in Ekpoma, adding the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, was already in Ekpoma.

Ikoedem said nine persons who were kidnapped on Friday were rescued unhurt after the Eagle Combat Drone Unit was deployed to the forest alongside local hunters.

“In the heat of the rescue operation, the kidnappers’ camp was located through real-time aerial intelligence.

“The ground troops stormed the camp, forcing the kidnappers to flee and abandon two locally fabricated AK-49 rifles.

“The victims, including five children were rescued unhurt. This landmark deployment underscores the transformative role of technology in modern policing and sets a new benchmark for operational enhancement in Edo State,” she said.