Sahara Reporters, via its official X handle, has shed light on a petition filed by the Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide to the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. The petition highlights rampant extortion and humiliation faced by road users at 90 military and Joint Task Force checkpoints scattered across the five states of the Southeast region.
The petition, signed by INC President Chilos A.C. Godsent and obtained by Sahara Reporters on Tuesday, paints a grim picture of what should be security checkpoints serving as illegal tollgates. According to the INC, these checkpoints, operated by police, military, and other security personnel, have become hotbeds for exploitation, intimidation, and human rights violations against civilians.
“With all sense of dismay and pain in our hearts, we are compelled to bring to your attention the unconstitutional and unacceptable acts of security operatives at these checkpoints,” the petition reads. The INC emphasized that the 1999 Constitution and laws establishing the Armed Forces of Nigeria mandate the military and security agencies to protect lives, properties, and maintain law and order. However, the Council decried the blatant deviation from these duties in the Southeast.
The petition alleged that security operatives have turned checkpoints into “illegal tollgates and humiliation points,” targeting commercial drivers, lorry operators, and everyday civilians. The INC described the situation as “alarming,” noting that road users face arbitrary extortion, with commercial drivers being forced to pay bribes to pass, and passengers enduring degrading treatment.
Passengers reportedly endure severe humiliation, with security personnel allegedly forcing civilians to descend from vehicles and trek long distances, often under harsh conditions. The INC pointed out that this practice is not only dehumanizing but also a clear abuse of authority.
The Council’s petition calls for General Musa to immediately intervene and restore sanity to these checkpoints. “These acts of impunity tarnish the image of the Armed Forces and undermine the trust of citizens in security institutions,” the INC stressed. The group demanded an investigation into the alleged abuses and urged the Defence Chief to take decisive measures to hold erring officers accountable.
The petition reflects a broader concern about the deteriorating relationship between civilians and security agencies in the Southeast. It highlights the erosion of trust in institutions meant to protect citizens and underscores the urgent need for reforms to ensure that security personnel fulfill their constitutional duties without prejudice or corruption.
The Southeast, long regarded as a strategic and vibrant region, now grapples with security challenges that threaten to undermine its socioeconomic stability. The INC’s petition serves as both a call to action and a plea for accountability, aiming to ensure that the rights and dignity of citizens are upheld.
As Nigerians await a response from General Musa, the ball is in the court of the authorities to restore public confidence and address the growing cries of injustice echoing from the Southeast. Will this petition prompt a shift in the status quo, or will the region’s residents continue to bear the brunt of unchecked abuses? Time will tell.
PIONEER NEWS 