Truck drivers block Lagos-Ore-Benin Highway over alleged police extortion

Traffic movement along the Lagos/Ore/Benin Expressway was severely disrupted on Wednesday after truck drivers blocked the Oniparaga section of the highway over allegations of extortion by police officers in Ondo State.

The protest caused a major gridlock on the busy route, leaving commuters, motorists and passengers stranded for several hours as movement on the expressway slowed to a halt.

Frustrated travelers called on relevant authorities to urgently intervene and resolve the situation to ease the hardship faced by road users trapped in the congestion.

However, the Ondo State Police Command denied allegations linking the incident to extortion by police personnel.

In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, described reports circulating on social media as false and misleading.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the disruption was caused by a tanker driver who intentionally blocked the highway following a disagreement with officers performing lawful duties.

The command insisted that the incident was not connected to any protest against police extortion, as widely reported.

The police further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, had directed the immediate deployment of additional personnel to the area to restore normalcy, manage traffic flow and ensure the safety of commuters.

The command urged members of the public to disregard what it described as misinformation surrounding the incident and advised residents to rely only on verified updates from official channels.