Produce Evidence of Security Operatives’ Extortion, Harassment in S’east – Group Tells Victims

By Praise Chinecherem

The Igbo National Council (INC) has called on victims of extortion, harassment and humiliation on roads across the state of the Southeast, to come forward with pictorial and video pieces of evidence of their experiences.

The INC Directorate of Human Rights Protection Desk, in a statement on Tuesday signed by the President, Chilos Godsent regretted series of complaints by various groups over militarization as well as the numerous roadblocks on roads in the region.

The group expressed optimism that such evidences would assist in ending the ongoing humiliation of civilians by security operatives at the various military checkpoints in Southeast region.”

The statement reads in part, “There have been complaints by human rights groups, civil society organizations, CSOs, and interest groups, over the militarization of parts of the Southeast, as well as the numerous roadblocks on roads in the region.

“These checkpoints, it was gathered, constituted avenues for extortion, brutalization, and humiliation of road users in the region, with little or no interference from the security agencies’ hierarchies.

“Recall that the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has fixed the Hearing of the group’s ‘Petition Against the Unlawful Extortion of Motorists and Wanton Humiliation of Civilian Passengers and Road Users by Security Operatives Serving in Some Joint Taskforce / Military Checkpoints and Outposts in South East Region on Nigeria to hold on Thursday 5th December, 2024.

“The hearing which will be held at the National Assembly Complex Abuja is to ascertain the level of human rights violations against civilians by the security operatives serving in some joint task force / military checkpoints and outposts in the South East Region of Nigeria, so that the necessary actions can be taken against the Perpetrators.

“We therefore call on interested people of South East Region to immediately furnish us with videos and pictures of the unlawful extortion and wanton humiliation of civilian passengers that are asked to come down from their vehicles and trek a distance to pass the checkpoint before entering their vehicle to continue with their journey.

“Please forward the videos and Pictures to the INC Directorate of Human Rights Protection via Whatsapp on 09085395089.

“This Public Hearing may put to an end the ongoing humiliation of civilians by security operatives at the various military checkpoints in Southeast region.”