Ibillo, Edo – A man from Ibilo in Edo State is currently embarking on a solo trek from Auchi to the Edo State Government House in Benin City to demand urgent repairs of the long-neglected Auchi-Ibilo Road.

The man who identified himself as Hakuzion Omokafe Balogun, described the journey as a personal sacrifice for the safety of his children and the people of Akoko-Edo.

Speaking with SaharaReporters during the journey, Balogun explained that his decision to trek, rather than travel by vehicle or mobilise a group, was deliberate.

According to him, doing otherwise might have been misconstrued as a political stunt or a ploy to seek financial gain.

“First of all, it is not that I cannot take a vehicle, get a group of people and say, let's board a vehicle, go to Benin and see the governor,” he said.

“But doing that may look political. People may say we have boarded a vehicle to collect pocket money and come back.”

Instead, he chose to walk alone, a symbolic gesture, he said, to reflect the seriousness of his cause.

“I know if I want to trek from that distance, nobody may want to join me. So that will really show that it's a sacrifice,” Balogun added.

“Because what I'm doing, I'm doing it for my children.”


Our People Are Suffering

Balogun recounted the severe condition of the road that links Igara to Ibilo, saying the journey, which should take only 10 to 15 minutes by car, now stretches to over an hour due to its dilapidated state.

“A vehicle going from Igara to Ibilo will spend more than an hour,” he lamented. “You have to go into another village to boycott some serious parts. It is very dilapidated.”

He noted that many lives and properties have been lost due to accidents and kidnappings on the road.

“A lot of our people have been kidnapped. I have lost an in-law on the road. A lot of our properties have been damaged. Over the years, we've been crying, but there hasn’t been much response.”

Balogun said his frustrations were further compounded by the recent distribution of Edo Line buses, from which Akoko-Edo was excluded.

“We were not recognised in the project for the Edo Line that was shared around Edo,” he said.

“That actually prompted me to say, I think I need to do a trek down to Benin so that the governor will know that we are serious.”


Trekking in Silence and Sacrifice

Balogun said he began his journey from Ibilo on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and officially started trekking from Auchi on Friday, July 25.

He expressed hope of arriving in Benin City by Sunday evening to visit the Government House on Monday.

“Seriously, I would like to get to Benin today, so that tomorrow, being Monday, we'll be able to access the Government House,” he said. “But unforeseen circumstances may come.”

He said that while he hadn’t officially notified the government of his mission, he had sent WhatsApp messages to some officials he knew personally, although none had read them yet.

Instead, he relied on word of mouth and social media to spread his message.

“I notified the internet because I know at least there are some people connected to the government,” he said.

“Maybe somebody will tell the governor, ‘See this person, this madman wants to enter the road.’”

Despite not receiving an official response, Balogun said he remains focused on his mission.

“I may not even see the governor's face when I get to Benin, but at least a statement has been registered,” he said.

“Tomorrow, there may be people who may want to go the extra mile to register their statement.”


Journey of Endurance

Asked about the challenges he has faced, Balogun mentioned sore feet, loneliness, and bouts of rain, although he praised the security personnel for being supportive along the way.

“As I am talking to you, my legs are sore. My feet are sore. I am taking a risk on the road, lonely, on a lonely road. I can’t take that kind of risk because I want to do content.”

Balogun said he is traveLling light—with a bag containing essentials like water, a wrapper, sweater, and masking tape to bind his wounds.

He also wears a placard which reads: “Governor Monday Okpebholo, help us fix the road from Auchi to Ibilo. We beg you.”


Even If No One Listens, I Have Made My Statement

Though aware that the government may not respond to his sacrifice, Balogun insisted he would not regret his actions.

“Yes, I am prepared for that,” he said when asked if he’s ready for the possibility of being ignored.

“But one thing I know, a statement has been registered, on the internet, physically in the hearts of people, and even in the heart of the state government.”

He said supporters in Benin are preparing to receive him at the bypass, and expressed hope that his message will reach the governor, whether or not he is granted a formal audience.

“Maybe somebody official will meet me when I get there so we can move together and get the attention of the government anyhow, anyway.”

Despite the odds, the lone trekker remains undeterred in his mission to highlight the plight of his people.

“This is a sacrifice. Not content. Not politics. Just a father's plea for safer roads for his children.”