Travelers stranded in Rivers as soldiers block road after IPOB clash
2 min read
Several trucks, petroleum tankers and vehicles are trapped around the Oyigbo axis of the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway in Rivers State as security operatives block the Imo-Rivers border on Friday, Punch reports.
Punch said that this followed the killing of some soldiers by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra in Abia State who were enforcing the sit-at-home order in commemoration of the May 30th ‘Biafra Day.’
Following the long queues, hundreds of passengers are stranded as movement to the neighbouring Abia State is restricted.
“People travelling, look at pregnant women are also here because of what they said happened in Aba.”
It was gathered that the blockade may be connected to reports of sporadic shooting into the air early on Thursday morning by suspected IPOB members at the Oyigbo roundabout and kom-kom community in Oyigbo LGA in Rivers State.
READ ALSO: https://newsstrike.com.ng/2024/06/01/ogun-statistician-general-implores-statisticians-to-embrace-innovative-techniques/
It was reported that the trucks queued along the border between Abia and Rivers State were travelling to different parts of the South-East before they met the blockade.
Some drivers said they have been at one location since Thursday due to the barricade; none of the drivers are even willing to go to Aba, Abia State, for fear of being attacked due to the tension there.
One said, “Heavily armed Army men blocked the Imo River and the border between Abia and Rivers State. So, there is no movement because of what is happening in Abia State. We have been like this since Friday morning.
“We heard that the IPOB people in Abia State are having problems with soldiers, that some soldiers and civilians were killed. That is why we packed here.
“But we are hoping that the security will improve so that they will remove the blockade so we can continue our journey.”
Another truck driver, identified as Ikechukwu, said he and his motor boy slept on the road from Thursday evening till now due to the barricade by soldiers.
“You can see that soldiers have blocked this Imo gate here. So there is no road, and we have been here without food. Let the government come to our aid because already there is serious hardship in this country,” he added.
But moving into Oyigbo town, residents deny any shooting, saying the place is peaceful.
It was observed that there was calm in the area, with free vehicular movements, even as shops and other businesses were open to customers.
One of the residents who did not want his name mentioned said, “I’m living in Oyigbo here, and there is nothing like gunshots. Where there is a problem is in Abia State after the altercation, on Thursday.
“But the information we are getting now is that soldiers have blocked the expressway, and cars and trucks cannot move. But Oyigbo is calm.”
