Protest over power outage leaves travellers stuck on Edo highway
Residents of Idokpa Community in Edo State staged a protest on June 5, 2025, blocking a major highway and leaving many travellers stranded. The demonstration was sparked by several weeks of power outage, which locals say has crippled their businesses and daily lives. Protesters demanded that government officials and media representatives address their grievances before reopening the road. The Benin Electricity Distribution Company attributed the outage to a gas shortage, not deliberate action.
What happened
- Residents of Idokpa Community blocked a key highway in Benin, Edo State on June 5, 2025, protesting prolonged power outage.
- The protest caused hours of gridlock, leaving travellers—especially those heading north—stranded for much of the day.
- Protesters accused the Benin Electricity Distribution Company of diverting electricity meant for their area to other communities.
- Locals insisted the road would remain closed until top government officials and the media addressed their concerns.
- A BEDC official stated the outage was due to a gas shortage affecting power generation, not intentional neglect.
