Residents Of Idi-Ape Oko, Layeri, Olowo, Ojere Communities In Kwara Protest Over Deplorable Road, Urge Governor AbdulRazaq To Act Amid Rising Insecurity

Ilorin,  Kwara State– Residents of Idi-Ape Oko, Layeri, Olowo and Ojere communities in Ogidi, Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State on Saturday staged a protest over the deplorable condition of the road linking their communities, calling on the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to urgently intervene and fix the road.

The protesting residents said the road, which serves as a major access route connecting the communities to other parts of Ilorin, has deteriorated to a point where it is almost completely impassable, leaving thousands of residents stranded and exposing them to growing security risks.

The protest, which took place along the affected road, saw men, women and youths from the four communities carrying placards and chanting slogans while appealing to the state government to come to their rescue.

Speaking during the protest, several residents described the road as a death trap and said years of neglect had turned what used to be a major community road into a muddy and dangerous path.

One of the residents, who spoke to Afrika Eyes during the protest, said the road has become nearly impossible for vehicles to pass through, especially during the rainy season.

“This road has become a serious problem for us. Vehicles can hardly pass here again. When it rains, the road becomes completely flooded and filled with deep potholes. Sometimes motorcycles even find it difficult to pass,” the resident said.

Another resident lamented that the bad road has severely affected economic activities in the area, as traders, farmers and transporters now avoid the route.

“Many commercial drivers refuse to come to this area because of the condition of the road. Our farmers cannot easily transport their produce to the markets, and this is affecting our livelihoods,” the resident added.

The protesters also expressed concern that the poor condition of the road has made the communities more vulnerable to criminal activities.

According to them, criminals often take advantage of the difficult terrain to attack residents and motorists, particularly at night.

“The bad road is now a security risk. Because vehicles cannot move fast here, criminals easily operate in this area. Sometimes people are attacked and robbed because there is no quick access for security agencies,” another resident said.

They further alleged that the situation has become a threat to the lives and property of people living in the affected communities.

“Our lives and properties are no longer safe. If there is an emergency, even ambulances cannot come here quickly because of the condition of the road,” a community youth leader explained.

The residents therefore called on Governor AbdulRazaq and the Kwara State Government to urgently rehabilitate the road before the situation worsens.

“We are appealing to the Kwara State Government to come to our aid. This road is very important to us and to many communities around here. We are begging the governor to intervene and fix this road for us,” one of the protesters said.

The protesters stressed that the call for intervention has become more urgent, especially at a time when parts of the state are grappling with rising insecurity.

They warned that neglecting critical infrastructure such as roads could further expose rural communities to security threats and economic hardship.

The residents said they would continue to appeal to the government until concrete action is taken to repair the road and restore normal life in the affected communities.