Angry commercial drivers in Ile-Ife, Osun State, and its environs on Monday blocked the Ife-Ilesa highway to protest incessant robbery incidents in the area.
The protest was in reaction to the latest reported robbery incident which was said to have occurred at the Osu junction of the highway in the early hours of Monday.
The Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ilesa Branch, Mr Olatunji Oladipupo, said that robbery attacks had become persistent on the highway, especially at night.
He spoke while reacting to the protest said to have been initiated by luxury bus and articulated vehicle drivers which paralysed vehicular movement for hours.
“These armed robbers roll heavy stones on the highway at Osu junction on the way to Ilesa and rob, especially at night,’’ Oladipupo said.
The NURTW boss said the robbers were taking advantage of the bad condition of that stretch of the highway to carry out their operation.
“Motorists and commuters are fed up with the terrible state of the road and the persistent robberies at that spot.
“This is the reason why the luxury buses and trailer drivers protested on Monday morning and blocked the road in protest and calling for government intervention.
“It is very important that the government provides adequate security operatives at Osu junction, Iyana-Iloba, Itagun junction and Ile-Ife toll-gate at night to ensure the safety of night travellers,” Oladipupo said.
He, however, warned against night travelling, saying many were exposing themselves to unnecessary danger.
Residents described the “ stop and search’’ exercise of the police on the highway as ineffective, alleging that it was being used for extortion of motorists.
A resident, Mr Jimoh Ekundayo, said that the persistent robbery attacks on the road, in spite of police presence, forced the drivers to stage the protest.
“Instead of searching for suspected criminals during the stop and search exercise, officers now use the opportunity to extort money from commercial drivers,” he said.
Also speaking, a commercial driver, who craved anonymity, called on the police hierarchy to check the excesses of officers on patrol.
“The statutory role of the police has been jettisoned and motorists are now more vulnerable than ever on the highway,” he said.
But the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun, ASP Folashade Odoro, denied any incident of robbery on the Ife-Ilesa highway.
She said the police were always on patrol on that axis of the expressway to tackle crime.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the state, Mr Wale Folarin, said he was aware of a protest on the highway.
Folarin, however, said he was not aware of the reason for the protest or those behind it.
