Not less than 200 youths are protesting in Kwale, Ndokwa West local government area, Delta State over the unavailability of electricity in Ndokwa, especially Kwale metropolitan town for the past 16 years.
The protest started around 6am, but by 9am the crowd was dispersed with teargas by security agents mainly for blocking the Ughelli/Ogwashi Ukwu expressway by New Haven junction Umuseti, Utagba Ogbe Kingdom, .
However, after a few moments, the crowd mobilized and blocked the Umusam Junction by Technical College/Ughelli park with a trailer and other objects.
The protesting youths stormed major roads in Kwale, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Light Up Ndokwa Nation”;, “No Light, No Peace”;, and “We are Tired of Darkness”;.
Despite the relative calm, tension mounted in the community, with businesses shut down and residents expressing fear over possible escalation. The protests continued into the afternoon while vehicular movements were halted.
The protesters, predominantly youths, erected canopies at Ogume Junction, a strategic location along the Asaba–Kwale–Ozoro highway.
The demonstrators, expressed deep frustration over the blackout and demanded that the Okpai Power Plant Step-Down facility supply light to Ndokwa communities be restored.
They argued that despite the Okpai Gas Reserves and power installations in the area contributing significantly to the national grid, Ndokwa nation continues to languish in darkness.
The demonstrators effectively cut off traffic flow between Asaba to Kwale and Kwale to Ozoro. Vehicles heading in either direction were forced to a halt, while long queues of stranded passengers formed along the route.
The demonstrators also mounted canopies, blockade at the Technical College junction in Kwale, denying passage to vehicles traveling along the Asaba–Ughelli Road.
Presence of military personnel and police officers were stationed at various points to monitor the situation, though no reports of clashes between the protesters and security forces were recorded.
A spokesperson for the protesters who declined to mention his name said the protest reflects a long-standing grievance in Ndokwa land, where residents feel marginalized and neglected, despite being host to vital energy infrastructure.
“The Delta State government and the Federal Ministry of Power should intervene and address the demands of the protesting youths before the situation spirals out of control, ”; he warned.
A Senior police officer overseeing security operations in the area declined to comment when approached, instead directed inquiries to the Delta State Police headquarters in Asaba.
Recall that the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday Onyeme, and former Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, DSHA, Friday Osanebi both from the area earlier declared full support for the Monday “Light Up Ndokwa”; protest.
