Tensions flared in Edo State as angry youths staged a protest at the Ugbowo axis of the Benin-Lagos Expressway, near the University of Benin (UNIBEN), blocking the major highway.
The demonstrators, mostly young people, reportedly barricaded the highway, causing massive gridlock and leaving commuters stranded for hours. Travelers and motorists were forced to seek alternative routes as the protest disrupted movement along the major corridor linking the South-South to the South-West.
Eyewitnesses say the protesters expressed frustration over the high cost of living, hunger, and worsening economic conditions, calling on the government to urgently address their plight.
Security operatives were later deployed to the scene to restore order and ease traffic congestion, though the situation remained tense at the time of reporting.
The Benin-Lagos Expressway is a critical route for commercial and passenger transport, making the disruption particularly impactful on economic activities.
