Human Rights activist laments alleged extortion by Army from motorists

Stanley Ihedigbo

Human Rights activist and State Coordinator,
Congress of Civil Siciety Abia Chapter, Comrade Damian Ogudike, has lamented alleged extortion by the Nigerian Army from motorists, at ABSU Military Check Point and Ihube-Uturu round about of the state.

Speaking with The Mirror, Ogudike, said it is unfortunate that the army personals  stationed at these check points to protect the people and motorists, are  adding to their problems by extorting monies from them.

He explained his experience, “What transpired between me and those  army officers on  8th of  January at ABSU Military Check Point, was a horrible experience. As l was aproaching their check point, l was curious looking at them if they will   stop me.  Non  flag me down and  I moved on.

“On getting to the next check point at Ihube-Uturu round about, one of  personnels  stopped me and told me to turn back to ABSU check point. He said the soildiers there wants to see my face.

“I turned immediately without any argument. As l was turning, the same officer ordered my wife to come down from the vehicle. Which  my wife alighted  ,from the vehicle and  stand at the main road.

“Driving  back to the ABSU check point,  one of the same officers I passed before,   told me to alight   from the vehicle and  stand by the side. I was confused and so worried because ,  my wife was still at the point where I was told to turn back. This is couple that left home together and we were laughing and talking,  suddenly,  husband and wife were separated”, he narrated.

The Human Rights activist added, “As I was imagining what was my offence,  the army man with his rife came very close to me and said, ‘ I will hold you today’. I don’t   reply a word to him because because I don’t understand him clearly or knows his reasons. Again,  while l was hold at ABSU Check point, my wife was held in Ihube-Uturu Check point. I looked around the check point if l could  see any of their superior.  l was not able to locate  senior officers with them.  At this point, l then know that l’m in trouble.

“I was there for an   hour and it was done on me,  that the officers  are not ready to let me go and my wife that was in the other end is another disturbance to me.   l notified Civil Military-Relation whatsapp group I belong and some personalities my plight. Thank God there was  response from immediately and their superior was reached.

“One of the officer  told me  go and I noticed their faces,   they are not happy with me.  I  have to move to the next check point to pick my wife. On getting to the check point, the officer standing on the road was begging me for the treatment . Another officer, who is  fair in complexion alighting from their vehicle and started raining all manner of abuse on me for not give them money,” he further lamented.

According to him,  as he was there,  he observed that motorists passing through the road were forced to give the officers money.

“There are young men  who was collecting the money from the motorists for the army officers. I counted many of the drivers those guys  collected money from. It was at this point l realised that l supposed to park and give my own toll gate illegal fee.
Because l didn’t park and pay my our own illegal toll gate like other drivers did, that was why they stopped me at the second check point.

“I’m was not  aware that such thing is happening in that two check points. I dont know that this check points has been converted to toll gate.

“Some drivers who dont pay the actual amount expected from them , were detained and when they give the expected money are set free.  This is what ordinary Nigerians are passing through in ABSU and Ihube-Uturu check points,”he said..

He appealed to the Nigerian Army authority to do some thing about it because the highly  respected profression in the world has been reduce to mere tauts.

“I also appeal to  Abians to rise up to stop this inhuman treatment ordinary   Nigerians are passing through in those  check points and other places within Igboland,”  he emphasied.