The Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has appealed to President Mohammadu Buhari to restore military check points on highways in the state.

This call is contained in a statement issued by the council in Lokoja on Tuesday.

It said the increasing wave of kidnapping and armed robbery on major highways in the state had made this inevitable.

It stressed that armed robbery on Okene- Lokoja, Lokoja-Abuja and Lokoja-Ajaokuta -Ayingba highways had not only become alarming but worrisome.

It cited the death of 12 persons in an accident that occurred on July 6 on Okene-Lokoja road due to a barricade mounted by armed robbers as an example.

According to the statement signed by the Secretary of the council, Mr Momoh Jimoh, kidnapping and armed robbery reached a worrisome level shortly after the withdrawal of the military check points.

``The impunity with which armed robbers operate on the roads shows that the police alone cannot effectively provide security on the highways.

``We, therefore, call on Mr President to urgently restore the military check points to enable the populace to sleep with their two eyes closed", the statement said.

It also urged police in the state to redouble their efforts in preventing crime, saying that checking of vehicle particulars should not be their main pre-occupation now. (NAN)

•Photo shows check point