No fewer than 200 people travelling
through Nasarawa State were on Friday trapped in a village near Akwanga, in an
attempt to avoid a roadblock by protesting women and children.
NAN reports that the women and children were protesting over
the killing of policemen and other security agents at Alakyo village by the
Ombatse militia on Tuesday.
Following the blockade, vehicles
tried to go through bush paths but the protesters blocked the paths, saying
they were enforcing a restriction of movement through the state.
Some of the travellers told NAN that
they were trapped in a remote village off Akwanga, near a local government area
primary school and had no protection.
They said the women, who blocked the
road, carried big sticks and were already burning car tyres on the bush paths
to demonstrate their anger and dismay over the killings.
Commercial transporters and private
vehicle drivers were trapped in the blockade.
One of the passengers, Mrs. Victoria
Dzeremo, trapped with her daughter, Erdoo, said their vehicle, a commercial
bus, had been stopped from further movement few kilometres off Akwanga.
“We have been here in this bush for
more than an hour; these women have blocked the road and are demanding for
government’s explanation over their husbands’ killings.
“They are here with their children,
we have been begging them since to allow us passage but to no avail, the
situation is quite serious.
“Now, they have started burning the
nearby bush and we are afraid the fire might escalate and affect the vehicles,”
Dzeremo said.
The Police Public Relations Officer
in-charge of Nassarawa State, DSP Michael Ada, said Akeremale had directed the
Area Commander to go and persuade the protesters to open the road.
NAN learnt the protesters insisted
that they would only leave the road when their delegation to Governor Tanko
Al-Makura returns and gives them a feedback on government’s position.
Tags
Politics