Travellers plying through Edo this morning (Saturday, September 21) were stuck as military men mounted roadblocks in boundary areas as the ongoing governorship election in the state progressed.
Efforts by the travellers to convince the security officers at Agbor-Igueben-Uromi road junction yielded no result, leading to a buildup of traffic on the road
Accredited journalists, including a Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on election duty, were also affected.
It, however, took a phone call intervention by Capt. Chinonso Oteh, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade, Benin, for the journalists to be allowed to proceed.
Oteh reportedly told the security agents that accredited journalists were part of the essential personnel for election duties.
Meanwhile, the commuters, who said they wanted to connect neighbouring states expressed frustration and disappointment.
“I have been stuck here since 7 a.m.; I have an urgent family engagement but the soldiers won’t let us pass,” Mrs. Adaora Nwachukwu, travelling from Onitsha to Akure lamented.
Similarly, Mr. Femi Oyedele said he thought he could beat the time.
“I thought I could beat the time and the security but unfortunately I am caught up,” he said.
NAN recalls that the police, had during a news conference on Friday, ordered restriction of movement between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. for the Saturday election.
