Group kicks against 'illegal military/ JTF checkpoints in S'East'

A socio-cultural and human rights organisation, the Igbo National Council (INC), has strongly opposed the existence of “uncountable number” of military /Joint Task Force checkpoints on major roads in the Southeast.

In a joint statement Wednesday (today, August 14), the Directorate of Human Rights Protection and INC, expressed regret that the roads in the Southeast have been converted to “tollgates” by Nigerian security agents “of different hues” and called for their immediate dismantling.

President of INC, Chilos Godsent who issued the statement on behalf of the other groups claimed lots of road users in the Southeast have been humiliated, embarrassed and extorted by these “mostly uncouth and disrespectful security agents on roadblocks in the Southeast who treat our people with so much disdain.”

He said: “Contrary to their rules of engagement, the security operatives serving in some of the under-listed JTF / Military Checkpoints /Outposts in the five states of the Southeast Region of Nigeria have turned these checkpoints and outposts into illegal tollgates and humiliation points against civilian road users.

“The worst of it is that they carry out these acts with impunity, believing that the law cannot catch up with them. This rate of intimidation and extortion of commercial bus and lorry drivers and the humiliation of civilian passengers on these checkpoints is alarming, embarrassing and unacceptable to the laws and people of the Southeast Region of Nigeria.

“In some of these Joint Task Force / military checkpoints, civilian passengers are asked to come down from their vehicles and trek a distance to cross the checkpoint before re-entering their vehicles to continue their journey.

“This humiliation of Nigeria citizens is carried out not minding if it is raining or scorching. In some of these checkpoints, they go a long way to order civilian passengers to raise their two hands while trekking to cross the checkpoint, which is a sign of surrender, while motorcyclists are ordered to roll their motorcycle to cross the checkpoints.

“Another unlawful and unacceptable act by these security operatives is the arbitrary search of some passengers’ phone ‘mostly youths’ without a search warrant, even when these persons are not under arrest.

“In view of the above, we wish to state that these actions contravene Section 34, and Section 217(2)(C) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended 2018.”

Godsent further alleged that the action by these security agents have caused panic among the residents who have become too intimidated to dare to volunteer or divulge critical information that would enable them to apprehend criminals.

“From our study, we discovered that many citizens and community persons inhabiting these localities find it very difficult to properly relate and share vital intelligence with these security operatives, which could have helped them discharge their duties effectively in the fight against bandits, armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminal elements terrorizing those localities,” Godsent noted.

“The reason is that people feel that the conduct of these military personnel is repressive and unfriendly to the civilian folks.”

He, therefore, requested that the Nigeria Defence Headquarters set-up a Taskforce or Monitoring Team to investigate and monitor the activities of the various Joint Task Force / military checkpoints and outposts located in the South East Region of Nigeria and, where they are found culpable, to order their arrest and prosecution.

Some of the roads most affected by this babarity include Nunya junction along Okigwe-Umuahia express road; Isuikwuato-ABSU gate Uturu; Isuikwuato LGA Abia State; Umuikkaa Junction along Aba-Enugu Expressway Ishiala Ngwa South LGA

Others are Imo River Bridge, Owerrinta along Aba-Owerri Road Ishiala Ngwa South LGA, Abia State,Tonimas Junction behind BICOZ Fast Food along Aba-Enugu Expressway Osisioma LGA, all in Abia State.

Also listed are : Front of Abbott Boys Secondary School, along Owerri – Onitsha Expressway, Ihiala LGA, Anambra State, Acha junction, along Mile 2 and before mile 2 junction Ivo LGA, Ishieke junction, Abakaliki – Enugu Expressway, Ebonyi State and Three Corner Junction, Amagunze, Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State.

PDS Anara – Amaraku Road in Isiala Mbano LGA , Akachi Junction, Aba – Owerri Expressway, Naze, Owerri North LGA ,Umuowa by Imo Airport Junction, Aba – Owerri Expressway, Umuowa, Ngor-Okpala and Ugwu Orji along Owerri – Onitsha Expressway, by Umunoha junction, Mbaitoli LGA Imo State, among many others..