..Says Southeast most affected
Accident Prevention and Rescue Initiative (APRI), a road safety focused Non Governmental Organization (NGO)has joined other civil society groups and well meaning Nigerians, to call for immediate removal of excessive security checkpoints on the nation’s highways, especially in the Southeast.
The group also urged the the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oloyede, the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and heads of other security agencies, to monitor the activities of personnel manning various checkpoints, particularly in the Southeast, where they claimed that there are widespread allegations of extortions on the roads.
In a strong worded statement, signed by its Executive Director, Amb. Fidelis Nnadi, APRI echoed widespread public concerns over extortion and traffic delays in most of the checkpoints.
“There are alleged reports that many of these checkpoints function more as unauthorized and illegal revenue collection points, than tactical security posts, hiking transport and food costs.
“While we acknowledge the legitimate responsibility of security agencies to protect lives and property, particularly operations against kidnappers and other violent crimes on the roads, it is sad to note that security operatives have turned it as avenues of extortions, arbitrary delay of motorists, humiliation, and abuse ,” the he group stated.
APRI further alleged that the density and proliferation of checkpoints, have been weaponized to systematically extort motorists, commercial transporters, and disrupt movements of goods and services on the highways.
” We are inundated with complaints from motorists, farmers, traders, transporters and civil society organisations of alleged extortion on the roads
“We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police, military authorities and heads of other security agencies to immediately audit all checkpoints across the nation’s highways, particularly, the five Southeast States and made public their locations, operational necessity, authorisation and personnel.
“Checkpoints without reasonable security purposes must be dismantled and any personnel found demanding or collecting money from road users should be made to face sanctions and criminal proceedings.
“Constitutional rights to dignity and freedom of movement remains applicable at security checkpoints. The country is not under emergency rule.
“We call on the States’ Governors, particularly those from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States to demand responsibilities and accountability from security agencies.
“Security agencies should be made to embrace professionalism, respect for human rights and accountability.
“We demand that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) partner with the Nigerian Police to takeover the highways, terminate activities of non-state actors posing as revenue collectors, mounting road blocks and causing obstruction on the roads.
In conclusion, APRI vowed to sustain and intensify campaigns against checkpoint extortions and other human rights abuses being perpetrated by security agencies operating on the highways.
