YOUTHS from five local councils in Cross River State yesterday protested against the dilapidated state of the Ikom–Obudu federal road, calling for urgent Federal Government intervention over what they described as a route that has claimed several lives and disrupted economic activities.

The road, which links Obudu and Obanliku to Ikom, Boki and Etung, serves as a major access route to the Obudu Mountain Resort and facilitates trade among communities. However, it has remained in severe disrepair for years, affecting the local economy and delaying movement along the axis. Residents described the road as a death trap and urged immediate federal intervention.

The protest, led by the councillor of the National Youth Council of Nigeria for Abo Ward in Boki Local Council, Assam Martins Etta, brought together young people from Ikom, Etung, Boki, Obanliku and Obudu. Demonstrators carried placards describing the road as a death trap that has brought hardship to communities across the area.

The youths vowed not to participate in the 2027 general elections unless the road, abandoned for more than 20 years, is rehabilitated, describing it as a traveller’s nightmare that hampers vehicular movement, economic activities and development.

Etta said the people could no longer remain silent while lives continued to be lost because of the deplorable condition of the road.

“Our people have suffered for so many years because of the bad nature of this road. This road has been consuming lives. It has become a death trap. What used to be a right of way has turned into something that endangers everyone who uses it. For the communities across the five local government areas, the demand is clear: a safe and motorable road that protects lives and supports economic growth,” he said.

According to him, although the road is classified as a federal road, it has deteriorated to the point where it no longer resembles a functional roadway, with some sections overgrown and impassable.

He called on the state governor to address the people and outline concrete intervention plans, stressing that the communities feel abandoned despite the economic value generated by the road.

“This road provides so much revenue. Tolls are collected on agricultural produce such as banana, coconut and cocoa. Yet the same road has been neglected for years,” he said.

Etta said the protest would remain peaceful but warned that the youths were prepared to escalate their actions if authorities failed to respond, adding that the first phase of the protest would last four days before participants mobilise to the governor’s office if their demands are not met.

“We are serious about this. We are united in purpose. We are doing our best to keep this process peaceful and it will remain peaceful. That is our promise. But if the government does not respond, we will move to the next phase,” he said.

He added that the youths would continue to sensitise and mobilise their communities, insisting that their objective was not confrontation but the protection of lives and the restoration of safe passage on the road.