Residents of Mokwa in Niger State have blocked the Mokwa-Bida highway in protest against persistent banditry and alleged abductions in the area, leaving scores of travellers stranded.
The protest, which began on Saturday, has disrupted movement along the major highway linking parts of the South-West with northern Nigeria. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the scene reported that protesters blocked all entry points into Mokwa.
The development has caused significant hardship for motorists and commuters, with some travellers reportedly spending several hours on the road.
One of the protesters, Saliu Mohammed, alleged that suspected bandits had recently abducted 15 residents of the community. However, the claim could not be independently verified by NAN at the time of its report.
Mohammed said the protesters would remain on the highway until the abducted residents were rescued, accusing security agencies of failing to secure their release.
A commuter travelling from Ilorin to Abuja, Joy Amaechi, said she had spent about five hours in Mokwa because of the blockade. She appealed to the government to urgently intervene and secure the release of the alleged victims.
Similarly, a driver with a commercial transport company, Henry Nwachuckwu, said he arrived in Mokwa at about 7 a.m. on Sunday but found the highway blocked. As of about 10:30 a.m., when NAN filed its report, the protesters were still occupying the road.
The Mokwa-Bida highway is an important federal road corridor of more than 100 kilometres and serves as a major route for motorists travelling between the South-West and northern parts of the country.
The protest comes amid continuing security concerns in Niger State and other parts of north-central Nigeria. Recent reports have documented a reduction in road traffic and travelling activity in Niger State because of persistent kidnappings and killings linked to banditry.
In June, suspected Lakurawa militants also attacked a Nigeria Immigration Service checkpoint along the Mokwa-New Bussa road in Zugurma, Mashegu Local Government Area, highlighting the wider security challenges affecting road users in the state.
The latest protest underscores growing frustration among residents and road users over insecurity and renewed calls for stronger security measures to protect communities and travellers along major highways in Niger State.
