Hundreds of youths from Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State on Thursday staged a peaceful protest in Enugu, decrying what they described as years of neglect by both the state and federal governments.
The protesters marched through major streets in the state capital, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs as they appealed to the Enugu State Government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, to urgently address the challenges facing their communities.
According to the demonstrators, Uzo-Uwani has continued to suffer from poor road infrastructure, the absence of functional healthcare facilities, and recurring security incidents allegedly involving suspected Fulani herdsmen.
The youths lamented the lack of visible government presence in the area, accusing political leaders of visiting the community only during election campaigns to seek votes, but failing to return and fulfill their campaign promises after assuming office.
They said the protest became necessary after repeated efforts to draw attention to the plight of the community allegedly yielded no meaningful response from the authorities.
The protesters urged the Enugu State Government to prioritise the development and security of Uzo-Uwani, stressing that residents deserve access to basic infrastructure, improved healthcare services, and adequate protection of lives and property.
Residents of the area had previously raised concerns and presented evidence highlighting the poor state of infrastructure and the limited government presence in the community. The youths said the peaceful protest at the Enugu State Government House was intended to amplify their call for urgent intervention.
