Akwa Ibom CP warns protesting youths against blocking federal highways

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police (CP), Amiengheme Andrew, worried by incessant blocking of federal highways in the state by protesting youths, has warned irate youths against impeding traffic by blocking roads as a way of registering their grievances.

The statement by the CP on Monday, followed the recent protests by angry youths of Ikot Abasi, who took over a portion of the Akwa Ibom section of the East-West road, over the alleged failure of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to supply power to their communities, forcing vehicles to and from the neighbouring Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to remain in the traffic for some days.

Besides, angry youths of Itam in Itu Local Government Area had blocked a section of the Calabar-Itu highway as an accident involving a truck and a commercial tricycle claimed four lives.

According to Amiengheme, a situation whereby youths resort to the seizure of highways due to social issues including accidents, would no longer be tolerated and, therefore, warned the youths not to take the laws into their own hands by ventilating their anger on public facilities.

He recalled that “on November 13, 2021, at about 7:04pm, there occurred fatal multiple motor accidents at Akon Itam village, along Calabar/Itu Highway, involving a Howo Truck, a Sino Truck and two tricycles, leading to the loss of four lives, and a resultant blockade of the  Calabar-Itu Highway by some youths from Itu Local Government Area.”

“The Commissioner of Police is pained by the loss of lives and condoles with the bereaved families, but warned that blocking of the highway in protest caused road users undue hardship, and exposed some of them who diverted to other internal routes to be exposed to extortion, which is totally unacceptable”, the CP’s statement reads.

He, therefore, called on youths to “desist from blocking any highway whenever an accident occurs or whenever there is a pending issue with government and institutions”.

“Rather than resorting to blocking of highways, which is an offence and punishable under the law, it is better to allow the law take its natural cause”, he added.  

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