The Igbo National Council (INC) has kicked against unwarranted Military /Joint Task Force checkpoints on major roads in the South East.
In a joint statement by the Directorate of Human Rights Protection and INC, they regretted that the roads in the South East have been converted to toll gates by the security agents and therefore, called for the dismantling of the road blocks.
President of INC, Chilos Godsent, in the statement on behalf of the other groups claimed that several road users have been humiliated, embarrassed and extorted by the team.
He said: “Contrary to the above, security operatives serving in some of the under listed JTF / Military Checkpoints / Outposts in the five states of the South East region of Nigeria has 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 act 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 South East region of the country.
“In some of the Joint Taskforce / 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 citizens is carried out not minding if it was raining or scorching. In some of these checkpoints,they go a long way to order civilian passengers to raise their hands while trekking to cross the checkpoint which is sign of surrender, while motorcyclists are ordered to push or roll their motorcycles to cross the checkpoints.
“Another unlawful and unacceptable act by the security operatives is the arbitrary search of some passengers’ phones, especially youths without search warrant, even when these persons are not under arrest.
“In view of the above, we wish to state that this actions contravenes Section 34, and Section 217(2)(C) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended 2018.
“From our study, we have discovered that many citizens and persons inhabiting these localities find it very difficult to properly relate and share vital intelligence with security operatives, which could have helped them to discharge their duties effectively on the fight against bandits, armed robbers, kidnappers and other criminal elements terrorizing the localities.
“The reason is that people feel that the conducts of the military personnel are repressive and unfriendly to the civilian folks.” Godsent stated.
He, therefore, requested that the Defence Headquarters should set-up a taskforce or monitoring team to investigate and monitor the activities of the various Joint Taskforce / Military checkpoints and outposts located in the zone and make possible arrest and prosecute anyone found wanting.
Some of the roads listed include:
Nunya Junction along Okigwe-Umuahia express road, Isuikwuato ,ABSU gate, Uturu, Isuikwuato LGA Abia State ,Umuikkaa Junction, along Aba-Enugu e
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.
Still counting are: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.
Credit: The Sun