Truck Drivers Block Lagos‑Ore‑Benin Highway After Alleged Police Extortion

Traffic on the Lagos/Ore/Benin Expressway was heavily disrupted on Wednesday when truck drivers blocked the Oniparaga section of the highway, citing alleged police extortion in Ondo State.

The protest created a major gridlock on the busy route, leaving commuters, motorists and passengers stranded for several hours as movement on the expressway slowed to a halt.

Frustrated travelers urged the relevant authorities to intervene quickly and resolve the situation to alleviate the hardship faced by road users trapped in the congestion.

However, the Ondo State Police Command denied any link between the incident and police extortion.

In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, called reports circulating on social media “false and misleading.”

According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that the disruption was caused by a tanker driver who intentionally blocked the highway after a disagreement with officers performing lawful duties.

The command insisted that the incident was not connected to any protest against police extortion, as widely reported.

The police further disclosed that Commissioner of Police Felix Ohagwu had directed the immediate deployment of additional personnel to the area to restore normalcy, manage traffic flow and ensure the safety of commuters.

The command urged the public to disregard what it described as misinformation surrounding the incident and advised residents to rely only on verified updates from official channels.