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From Ben Dunno, Warri
The protest by hundreds of Isoko indigenes, mostly women and youths, over an alleged exclusion from pipeline security contact recently awarded by the Federal Government, along the major highway was brought under control by a combined security team, led by men and officers of the 63 Brigade, Asaba.
Investigations carried out revealed that the protesters, who came out as early as 7am, barricaded the major Ozoro-Kwale-Asaba Expressway, to stop the free flow of traffic along that axis, in order to register their grievances on what they alleged as the marginalisation of Isoko land in the surveillance contact.
It was gathered that the protesters, who carried green leaves as a mark of solidarity, also displayed placards with different inscriptions, demanding justice from the federal government on the surveillance contracts, while they blocked the roads with tyres, drums and planks to prevent vehicular movement.
It was further learnt that one of their major grievances was why ex-militant warlord, High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, aka Tompolo, who had been privileged to have got the contract under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration was re-awarded the same contract.
A witness, who pleaded anonymity, said: “It got to a point when the peaceful protest was getting rowdy, and the protesters were beginning to get out of control, as hoodlums were seen to have infiltrated their midst in order to hijack the protest and cause mayhem.”
“It was at this point, at about 11:30am, that the security operatives, led by the 63 Brigade Officer In Charge of Defence Company at Kwale, Major S.O Ibitoye, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ozoro, and other security outfits, moved in to address the protesters and pleaded with them to vacate the highway.”
The appeal made by the security operatives was said to have yielded positive results, as the protesters were seen removing the barricades to allow free flow of traffic on the highway.
As of 1:45am, normalcy was seen to have returned to the area, as residents went about their day activities unhindered.
