By Baron Ike
The Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) has requested the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to urgently intervene and address the concerns of citizens travelling to the Southeast during this yuletide.
There have been complaints from Nigerians, particularly those from the South East and South South zones about the numerous police checkpoints that are making their travel difficult due to lengthy traffic jam they are causing on the already busy roads.
The national coordinator of NOPRIN, Okechukwu Nwanguma said in a statement on Wednesday, December 21 that the situation is making life unbearable for the travellers on the South east and South South belt hence the IGP needs to intervene immediately.
“We are receiving several complaints of too many police checkpoints within very close range to each other which are seriously obstructing, rather than easing, free flow of traffic. One witness wrote: ‘Sir, l counted twenty three (23) Check Points between Onitsha Head bridge and my destination in lmo State . This is terrible and disturbing…”
The statement read: “These ubiquitous checkpoints and road blocks are causing traffic gridlock with the attendant delays and hardship for travellers.
“The need for police patrol to beef up security and ensure the safety and security of road users, especially during this period cannot be overemphasised. But when such effort becomes counterproductive by constituting a source of suffering for the citizens, it calls for urgent review.
“The sheer number of police checkpoints on southeast roads makes the zone look like it is under siege, like a conquered territory and this is breeding ill-feelings and frustration.
“We are not aware that the ban on police checkpoints have been lifted. What we know the police have ordered are police patrols, not road blocks or checkpoints.
“These checkpoints have historically been known to be nothing more than avenues for extortion, harassment and killings.
“We therefore, request the IGP to order a review and close monitoring of the operations and activities of personnel within the Southeast zone to ensure that they carry out their duties in a proper, citizen-friendly and lawful manner that does not constitute traffic obstruction and inconveniences, or become avenues for extortion and harassment of road users.”