Motorists plying Umuahia – Owerri road has appealed to the Chief of Defence staff and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the military currently blocking the strategic road linking Abia and Imo States at Ekenobizi Umuopara axis of the route to reopen it.
Speaking in separate interviews , the motorists including Iwuanyanwu Anthony,, Charles Udoh, Bernie Ufere and Gladys Chekube noted that the current situation has brought untold hardship on them and commuters as a journey that takes less than 30 minutes to neighbouring Obowo from Umuahia now takes over 90 minutes, while between 3 and 4 hours is spent on the journey to Owerri.
According to them , passengers now spend N2,500 to get Obowo as against N1000 paid as fares before the incident while that of Umuahia to Owerri is now about 4000.
While commiserating with the Army over the killing of its staff by unknown Gunmen about a week ago, they enjoined them to consider the plight of the innocent masses who are now bearing the burden.
Baring their mind, some commuters and traders at the Onuimo market while condemning the dastardly act of the unknown Gunmen appealed to the Federal Government to direct the reopening of the road to save them from more economic woes.
Recall, unknown Gunmen shot and killed some soldiers at a military checkpoint located at Ekenobizi Umuopara in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State in the early hours of Wednesday last resulting in the closure of the ever busy and economically strategic road.
Travellers now pass through either Ihitte Uboma or Umuikaa junction to get to Owerri from Umuahia which are longer routes instead of through Umuopara – Obowo – Mbaise road .
