Group demands immediate dismantle of military checkpoints,  roadblocks over extorting motorists

Stanley Ihedigbo

Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) , the apex socio-political youth group has  demanded  the immediate dismantling of all military checkpoints and roadblocks in the region roads as personals resorted to extorting monies from motorists.

They also added the military personnels  have outlived their purpose of deploying them to the region.

According to the statement made available to The Mirror and  signed by  President General of  the group, Hon. Goodluck Ibem and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Okey Nwaoru.

They said the  primary purpose of deploying  military is to provide security but unfortunately that purpose have been relegated to the background as those soldiers use the military checkpoints to extorts motorists, dehumanize commuters and maltreatment of drivers who fail to comply to the will and caprises of the soldiers by paying bribes to them through some touts who disguise as plantain chips or orange sellers.

The group condemned in strongest terms the dehumanizing treatments meted out to motorists by Nigerian Soldiers deployed on South East roads.

“They embarrassed that the once highly respected profession (military) have been so reduced to a touting job were soldiers shamelessly collect bribes and even give change to motorists on their roads.

“In some military checkpoints, passengers are forced to come down from their vehicles to trek through the checkpoint and motorcycles riders will come down and push their motorcycle through the checkpoint. The situation is worst than a war situation.

“On January 8, 2023, Mr Damian Ogudike and his wife was maltreated at Ihube-Uturu military checkpoint for not paying bribe to the soldiers which is a custom to anyone that passes through that road. Private and commercial drivers are mandated to pay the illegal levies which the soldiers through their touts employed by them will tell you what to pay which failure to comply, you will be dehumanized for not paying.

“The military checkpoints on South East roads have been turned to a place where innocent Nigerians to subjected to different degrees of inhuman treatments for failing to pay bribes or murmuring when a motorist pays bribe,” they stated.

The group explained that trucks are forced to pay as high as N2000 to N3000 per truck , buses pay N500 to N1000 , and cars pay N200 to N500 depending on the soldiers mood involved.

“We demand for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those soldiers involved in collection of bribes on our roads which have help to destroy the security of the zone.

“When the mother of goat is opening the pot of soup to steal, the kid watches to learn from her mother as the saying goes. Most Nigerian children who grow up to become criminals today learnt it from our roads as the watch the Soldiers and Policemen collect bribes without any shame from motorists”, they stated.