Youths have blocked the Port Harcourt/Owerri highway, disrupting traffic and commerce in a fresh wave of protests in the state.
The highway is an important route connecting Rivers State to the South East region.
The youths, predominantly from Ohaji Egbema, expressed their frustration with the prevailing economic hardship, poor governance, and lack of basic amenities in the community.
The youths held placards bearing messages of discontent and chanted anti-government slogans.
A coffin and canopies were used to barricade the road.
“The protest is against economic hardship and the major road has been blocked, the Port Hacourt-Owerri expressway has been blocked with coffin and canopies.
“We the youths of Ohaji Egbema are protesting against bad governance, against bad roads, lack of electricity, hunger.
“No clean water and lack of electricity in this local government,” a resident said.
This latest demonstration follows a series of protests in Rivers State, including one in early October that turned violent, resulting in at least one fatality. The incident occurred during protests against the recently concluded local government election in the state.
