By Sam Gbangis Alfa, Minna
It was a hectic and unpleasant experience along the Bida–Mokwa Road on Monday night, October 5, 2026, as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) campaign team in Niger State, led by Professor Rabiu Bello Nasko, was caught in a web of uncertainty when drivers of articulated vehicles plying the Lambata–Lapai–Agaie–Bida route to the southern part of the country deliberately blocked the road, preventing vehicles travelling from both the North and South from reaching their destinations.
The situation was particularly severe in Bida town, where both entrances to the palace of the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, were reportedly blocked with trucks. Motorcycle riders were also unable to gain access to some major roads within Bida and were forced to use rough and alternative routes within the town.
The Lambata–Lapai–Bida Road has become a death trap for several years without government intervention, despite repeated calls by road users for urgent rehabilitation. Members of communities along the route have also been at the receiving end, performing burial rites for hundreds of victims and witnessing the loss of properties worth millions of naira as a result of the deplorable condition of the road.
The 2027 campaign team of Dr. Mohammed Kpautagi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Professor Rabiu Nasko, managed to escape the unfortunate situation, particularly the activities of motor boys positioned at various points along the road. At almost every kilometre, there are small passages deliberately created for the boys, who allegedly extort money from motorists to make ends meet.
The campaign team eventually reached Wuya-Kede Bridge over the River Niger, a few kilometres from Wuyagi-Suman community and the location of the only sugarcane business outlet along the Bida–Mokwa Road.
It was at the end of the bridge, while travelling from Mokwa to Bida, that a trailer was used to block the entire passage. Unknown to the team, they had reached what appeared to be their final stop. This prompted Dr. Kpautagi to express concern and direct the Director-General of the campaign, along with the former commissioners accompanying the team, to immediately meet with the leaders of the drivers.
The Director-General of the governorship campaign team, Professor Rabiu Bello; the running mate to the governorship candidate, Hon. Mamman Musa; former Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman; former Chief of Staff, Hon. Mikhail Bmotosahi; and the Zonal ADC Chairman, Hon. Gimba Tswatagi, immediately swung into action to dialogue with those responsible for the blockade.
Our correspondent gathered that Dr. Kpautagi was said to have released a substantial amount of money to the leaders of the articulated-vehicle drivers to enable members of his campaign team return to their respective villages after being stranded for more than six hours.
Also, while on top of the bridge, the team observed that the anger of the motor boys might not spare any member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who came across them.
According to them, “You people in this ADC vehicle are very lucky. If it were APC, they would receive the beating of their lives today.”
They continued to chant the slogan, “Sai Atiku! Sai Atiku!” as the vehicle was branded with images of Atiku and Dr. Kpautagi. The campaign team believed that this may have helped to prevent the situation from escalating.
After prolonged arguments, the motor boys openly told the team that they would not have negotiated with them if the vehicles had belonged to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We would have been humiliated or seriously beaten, and if possible, thrown into the River Niger, while our vehicles would have been destroyed,” they alleged.
They further complained that since the ruling APC came to power, Nigerians had not had it good, alleging that their lives had been filled with uncertainty, while the economy had deteriorated.
They cited the rising cost of transportation and food, as well as insecurity, as major challenges affecting their livelihoods.
In an interview with one of the drivers, Abubakar Kano, he said, “It is over four days that we have been in Bida protesting to…”
