The protesters used trailers to block both lanes of the expressway. The herdsmen lamented that they have continued to suffer huge losses from criminals who rob them and kill their cows.
However, the situation caused heavy traffic build up in the area as over 200 motorists and passengers were stranded.
Efforts by some soldiers and Policemen to clear the blockade failed as the protesting youths added some big sticks to the barricade. They later cleared a small path to allow a military patrol van drive through the barricade.
One of the stranded motorists who was on his way to Enugu told pointblanknews.com that they had to turn back to Okigwe junction and diverted to the Uturu – Akaeze road from where they got back to Ishiagu junction on the expressway.
He said; “We were on a bus on the way to Enugu. When we got to Lokpanta, some people on the roadside waved at us shouting ‘no road, no road’. As we approached the cattle market, there was a heavy traffic build up with over 200 vehicles. We had to turn back to Okigwe, at Ihube junction to the Uturu – Akaeze road from where we got Ishiagu junction, Ebonyi State, on the expressway. The detour is a distance of approximately over 50 kilometers. All the stranded travelers had to take this route to get to Enugu.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, was not successful, as he was yet to respond to a text message sent to him.