BY FAVOUR PERCY-IDUBOR
EDO transporters and traders have taken to the streets to protest the growing menace of thugs who they said have been harassing, extorting, and intimidating members.
The protest, which caused severe traffic congestion along the Oluku axis of Benin City, was sparked by mounting complaints of illegal levies imposed by criminal elements, often referred to as “agberos,” on commercial bus drivers and traders.
According to the protesters, motor parks, major bus stops, and even markets across the state have become dangerous battlegrounds, where thugs engage in violent acts of extortion.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Say No To Illegal Revenue Collection by Thugs,” and “Stop the Harassment and Extortion in Edo State,” the protesters expressed frustration over the daily violence and intimidation they face.
Some of the drivers disclosed that they were physically assaulted, their vehicles damaged and threatened if they refuse to comply with the thugs’ demands for money.
A commercial bus driver, Osas Davis, shared his experience, recounting how he and his colleagues were subjected to daily exploitation. “If we refuse to pay these illegal fees, they beat us, destroy our vehicles, and make threats against our lives. This has gone on for too long. We cannot keep living in fear.”
The protests, which affected commuters across the region, were further supported by members of the public, including Ikponwonsa, a commuter who found himself stranded due to the protests. “The way these thugs treat the drivers is inhumane,” he said.
“It affects the price of transportation and makes life harder for everyone. The government must act quickly to address this crisis.”
In addition to transporters, market traders are also bearing the brunt of the thugs’ exploitation. One trader, speaking on condition of anonymity, described how criminal elements invade markets, demanding heavy levies under threat of violence.
