Illegal checkpoints and extortion in South-East

In recent times, a deluge of complaints have emerged from the South East over extortion of money from
businessmen at illegal checkpoints set up by Federal Government security agencies throughout the zone.
This is happening despite the ban placed on roadblocks nationwide by the Inspector-General of Police
(IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, in February this year. Many business activities in the zone have been reported to be in a tailspin as a result of these atrocities
allegedly being perpetrated by the Police, Customs and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
and Control (NAFDAC) officials. The oppression of South-Eastern businessmen by these agencies has
elicited such outrage that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in the zone has called on the
Federal Government to intervene. Chairman of MAN in the region, Mr. Chike Obidigbo, in a recent protest letter to the Federal Government,
decried the constant interception of goods belonging to businessmen in that part of the country, and the
failure of the government and the leadership of the security agencies to rein in their erring personnel. The
situation, he said, has led to the businessmen’s loss of faith in the ability of the Federal Government to
call its security agents in the area to order. We strongly condemn the harassment of business concerns in the South- East by Federal security
agencies. The allegation of unbridled extortion of businessmen in the zone that has now been confirmed by
MAN deserves immediate attention and corrective action by the Federal Government and the concerned
security agencies. With the directive of the IGP outlawing police roadblocks throughout the country, it is inexplicable that
policemen are still mounting illegal checkpoints and harassing innocent businessmen and other citizens in
the South-East. For instance, reports from Aba and Onitsha indicate that security operatives have been
mounting illegal roadblocks at strategic points under the guise of checking the activities of bandits when, in
fact, the checkpoints are used for collection of illegal tolls. This is in breach of the law banning such criminal extortions. There have also been reports of fierce battles
between these security agents and the businessmen in Ariaria and Ogbaru Relief markets in Aba and
Onitsha, respectively, as the people resisted attempts to make them pay illegal tolls. Extortion of
businessmen smacks of lawlessness. It is jungle justice that deserves nothing but condemnation from all well-meaning Nigerians. It is a matter of
grave concern that the Federal Government has not intervened in this matter in spite of strident calls by
MAN. There is no reason police roadblocks must continue to be used for extortion in that geo-political
zone, when such checkpoints have been stopped throughout the country. The atrocities being perpetrated
by some security agencies in the South-East portend grave danger if they are not stopped. They could have serious backlash on the nation. One possibility is that the people may be forced to take
the law into their own hands, which may worsen the already fragile security situation in the country. We,
therefore, urge the leadership of the Customs, NAFDAC and the Police to quickly intervene and call their
commands in the South-East to order. The excuse of the police that the illegal roadblocks are to check the activities of kidnappers is lame and
unacceptable. The high level extortion reportedly going on in that region cannot be justified. These
agencies should do their work responsibly. Mounting of illegal checkpoints and extortion of the people are
definitely not part of these duties. The checkpoints should be dismantled forthwith, unless the IGP and the
Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the South-Eastern States are privy to this illegality. Let the police
authorities come up with a clarification on this matter. The duty of the police is to protect lives and property, not harassment and extortion of money from
legitimate businesses. In the same vein, Customs officials ought to be at the ports and borders, checking
illegal importation of goods into the country, while NAFDAC is to check fake and adulterated goods and
consumables, not extort the people. The illegal activities of some operatives of these agencies constitute
a dent to their image. South-East governors should speak out on this matter. Their glaring inaction on such serious breach of the law by the security operatives is unacceptable. Their
silence is detrimental to the survival of businesses in the South-East. This is more so as economy of the
zone is largely driven and sustained by private enterprises, which can only thrive in a conducive
atmosphere. The high-handedness and extortionist tendencies of the Nigeria Police, Customs and NAFDAC in the
South-East zone should be stopped immediately.