Traffic activities along the Lagos-Ore-Benin Expressway were brought to a standstill on Wednesday after truck drivers blocked a section of the highway in protest over alleged extortion and harassment by security operatives.
The protest occurred around the Oniparaga area of Ondo State, where truck operators parked their vehicles across the road, preventing the free flow of traffic and causing a massive gridlock that affected commuters, commercial transporters, and other road users.
Witnesses said the blockade left hundreds of passengers stranded for hours as vehicles piled up on both sides of the highway. Many travelers expressed frustration over the disruption and called on authorities to intervene swiftly to restore normal movement on the route.
According to the protesting drivers, they had become increasingly concerned about what they described as repeated demands for money and other forms of intimidation by officials operating along the corridor. The drivers insisted that the action was intended to draw attention to their grievances and seek immediate government intervention.
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However, the Ondo State Police Command denied allegations that the protest was caused by police extortion. In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the police described reports linking the incident to extortion as inaccurate and misleading.
The command stated that preliminary investigations showed that the disruption was triggered by a tanker driver who deliberately blocked the highway following a disagreement with officers carrying out their lawful duties.
According to the police, the incident was not a coordinated protest against extortion but rather an isolated event that escalated into a major traffic obstruction.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Felix Ohagwu, reportedly directed the immediate deployment of additional personnel to the affected area to restore order, manage traffic, and ensure the safety of commuters and motorists.
The police further urged members of the public to disregard unverified reports circulating on social media and rely on official sources for accurate information regarding the situation.
Efforts by security agencies eventually helped ease the congestion, with traffic gradually resuming along the highway after the obstruction was cleared.
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