Igbo National Council Condemns Illegal Military/JTF Checkpoints in Southeast

The Igbo National Council (INC) has expressed strong opposition to the increasing presence of unauthorized military and Joint Task Force (JTF) checkpoints on major roads across the Southeast region of Nigeria. In a joint statement from the Directorate of Human Rights Protection and INC, the groups lamented that these checkpoints have effectively turned into illegal toll gates, leading to widespread extortion and harassment of road users. The statement called for the immediate removal of these roadblocks.

Chilos Godsent, President of INC, speaking on behalf of the other groups, decried the treatment of civilians at these checkpoints. He described the humiliation, embarrassment, and extortion faced by road users as unacceptable.

“Security operatives at several JTF and military checkpoints across the five states in the Southeast have turned these locations into illegal toll gates, where civilians are subjected to constant harassment and extortion,” Godsent stated. “This behavior continues with impunity, as if they believe the law cannot catch up with them.

“He highlighted the alarming practice of forcing civilian passengers, including those on commercial buses and lorries, to disembark and walk across checkpoints, often under harsh weather conditions. At some checkpoints, passengers are even ordered to raise their hands while walking, a gesture that resembles a surrender. Motorcyclists, meanwhile, are forced to push their motorcycles across the checkpoints.

Godsent also condemned the arbitrary search of passengers’ phones, especially targeting youths, without a search warrant or any legal justification, further aggravating the situation.

“This behavior contravenes Sections 34 and 217(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended in 2018,” Godsent emphasized.

He added that the repressive and unfriendly conduct of military personnel at these checkpoints has created a significant barrier to effective communication and intelligence-sharing between the local communities and security forces. This lack of trust hampers efforts to combat banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, and other criminal activities in the region.

In light of these issues, Godsent called on the Defence Headquarters to establish a monitoring team to investigate the activities of the various JTF and military checkpoints in the Southeast. He urged them to arrest and prosecute any personnel found engaging in illegal activities.

The INC also provided a list of roads and checkpoints where these violations are rampant, including:- Nunya Junction, along Okigwe-Umuahia Express Road, Isuikwuato, ABSU Gate, Uturu, Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State- Umuikaa Junction, along Aba-Enugu Expressway, Ishiala Ngwa South LGA, Abia State- Imo River Bridge, Owerrinta, along Aba-Owerri Road, Ishiala Ngwa South LGA, Abia State- Tonimas Junction, behind BICOZ Fast Food, along Aba-Enugu Expressway, Osisioma LGA, Abia State- Front of Abbott Boys Secondary School, along Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, Ihiala LGA, Anambra State- Acha Junction, along Mile 2, Ivo LGA, Ebonyi State- Ishieke Junction, Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway, Ebonyi State- Three Corner Junction, Amagunze, Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State- PDS Anara-Amaraku Road, 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, Imo State- Ugwu Orji, along Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, Umunoha Junction, Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State

The INC continues to advocate for the protection of human rights and the dismantling of illegal checkpoints in the Southeast, urging authorities to take swift and decisive action.