RismadarVoice Reporters, August 9, 2026
Travellers were stranded for several hours on Sunday after residents protesting persistent insecurity blocked the Mokwa-Bida highway in Niger State.
The protest disrupted movement along the major route, with demonstrators reportedly barricading all entry points into Mokwa and preventing vehicles from passing through.
The development left commuters and motorists stranded, with some travellers reportedly spending the night on the highway.
A resident, Saliu Mohammed, said the protest followed the alleged abduction of 15 residents of the community by suspected bandits.
Mr Mohammed’s claim could not be independently verified as of the time of filing the report.
He alleged that the victims had yet to be rescued by security agencies and said the protesters would remain on the highway until the abducted residents were released.
The demonstration caused significant hardship for travellers using the route, which connects communities in Niger State and serves as an important corridor for motorists travelling between northern and central parts of the country.
One of the stranded travellers, Joy Amaechi, said she was travelling from Ilorin to Abuja when she became trapped in Mokwa. Ms Amaechi said she had spent about five hours at the location without any indication that the blockade would be lifted.
She appealed to the government and security agencies to urgently intervene, secure the release of the alleged victims and restore normal movement along the highway.
A commercial bus driver, Henry Nwachuckwu, said he arrived in Mokwa at about 7 a.m. but was unable to continue his journey because of the protest. At about 10:30 a.m., he said, the protesters were still occupying the highway.
According to reports gathered, protesters are demanding immediate action from the authorities, particularly the rescue of the residents they alleged were abducted.
The authorities had yet to provide an official account of the alleged abductions or the circumstances surrounding the protest at the time of filing this report.
