The Federal Government and the Southeast State Governments have been called upon to intervene in the heinous crimes of extortion and humiliation unleashed on road users across the various roads in the Southeast, by the Joint Security Taskforce, JTF and the military at the various checkpoints.
Across many roads in the region, motorists and travelers are forced to part with huge amounts of money, after suffering long queues at the checkpoints, while refusal to pay such monies usually results in assault or manhandling of such individuals.
For example, at the various checkpoints along the Enugu-Awka expressway, the military operatives engage civilians on mufti to brazenly collect such tolls for them, and motorists who refuse to pay are delayed for manhours for no cogent reason.
In a bid to raise awareness of this anomaly, the Directorate of Human Rights Protection Services of the Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide, has commenced the compilation of a list of Identified JTF/ Military Check Points involved in extortions and humiliation of road users in South East Zone.
A preliminary list they issued on Tuesday, revealed the following checkpoints- PDS Anara – Amaraku Road in Isiala Mbano LGA Imo State, Akachi Junction, Aba – Owerri Expressway, Naze, Owerri North LGA Imo State; Umuowa by Imo Airport Junction, Aba – Owerri Expressway, Umuowa, Ngor-Okpala LGA Imo State; Eziama junction, Owerri – Onitsha Expressway, Mbaitoli LGA Imo State; Ogii-Isiokwe along Okigwe/Umuahia express road, Okigwe LGA. Imo State; Umualumoke junction, Ugwuaku Road, along Okigwe-Umuahia express road, Okigwe LGA. Imo State and Nunya junction along Okigwe-Umuahia express road, Isuikwuato LGA Abia State.
Others include Leru-Ihube, opp. Camp of Faith Okigwe LGA, Imo State; Okigwe-Uturu junction, along ABSU road, Okigwe LGA Imo State; Beside ABSU gate Uturu, Isuikwuato LGA Abia State; Acha junction, along Mile 2 and before mile 2 junction Isiaka LGA, Ebonyi State; Amawel junction, Ubomini Town along Owerri – Orlu Road Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State; Stanel Junction along Onitsha-Enugu Expressway Anambra State and Enamel Ware Junction, Onitsha-Owerri expressway Anambra State.
The group is requesting for the details of many other JTF/ Military Check Points that are involved in this mess to be sent to the email address- igbonationalcouncil@gmail.com or via WhatsApp 09085395089.
Reacting to the release of the list, Chidi Igwe, a legal practitioner and public affairs analyst, said there were numerous others in Imo State not mentioned, insisting that there is no justifiable reason why the people should be allowed to suffer such inhumane treatment in the hands of security personnel.
He also shared his experiences at some of the checkpoints.
“The one before the boundary between Imo and Rivers State at Umuapu and another along Okpalla/Okhehi Etche Road at Eziama in Imo State.
“What they do at those toll collection points is pensive.
“All commercial drivers must alight from their buses, walk to their shed drop N200.00 and walk back to their vehicle.
“The worst scenes happen on Aba Port Harcourt Road. From Imo River Bridge to Alaoji on the part of Abia State, a distance of less than 40km has over 10 such Army tollgates and numerous and uncountable police checkpoints.
“To worsen the matter, the distance between one point to the other in some cases is less than half a kilometer. All of these are targeted at extorting Igbo drivers and commuters.
“On the Rivers State’s side, from Imo Bridge to the former tollgate at Iriebe is less than 5km but there are over 10 police extortion points on that short stretch all targeted, at Igbo commuters and drivers.
“What the soldiers do is to commission their civilian agent, usually an Igbo boy who blocks the road with a bamboo pole at their location and collects the toll on their behalf. This thing has happened for so long under our noses and no one seems to act.
“Two years ago or there about when Wike and the military locked down Obigbo for nearly two months, nobody raised an eyebrow until the day I went to Aba at the heat of the said punitive lockdown by Wike and saw the genocide and pogrom that was going on their, raised alarm.
“The next day Amnesty International brought it to national limelight and accused former governor Wike of invading and locking down Oyigbo with military men.
“Wike denied the accusations but lifted the nearly two months lockdown he imposed on predominantly Igbo residents living in Oyigbo.
“I think we should do something now to rescue our suffering brothers who ply that route, for their daily livelihood,” Igwe said.
