A civil rights group, the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN), has raised the alarm over what it called the increasing number of unwarranted and illegal police checkpoints and roadblocks in Nigeria. It observed that the phenomenon has risen particularly during this Yuletide.

This is contained in a statement issued by NOPRIN Executive Director, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma. According to the release, “Ordinarily, Southeast States (Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo) witness the highest presence of police checkpoints and roadblocks where officers stop motorists, intimidate, extort money and delay travellers in transit, but with the approach of Christmas, the number of these checkpoints and roadblocks have increased together with the menacing activities of police officers who set them up.

“Many travellers have already reported being stopped, harassed, intimidated and extorted money by these police officers. Apart from being delayed, some have also reported being detained for being unable or unwilling to part with a bribe.”

Citing a recent example, Nwanguma said: “I just received a call from one of the victims who was stopped by police officers at a checkpoint at Obolo Afor in Enugu State. He was detained because he refused to give money in order to be allowed to continue on his journey from the North to his hometown in Enugu. I called the Enugu State PPRO but before he could do anything, the victim had been forced to pay to pass.”

But that was not the end of the story. According to Nwanguma, “The young man I posted about his experience with Police Officers at a checkpoint at Obolo Afor, Enugu State, (later) reported that he was taken to Obolo Afor Police Station, beaten up, threatened and forced to write a self-incriminating statement. He eventually succumbed and gave the officers eight thousand naira before they let him go.

“I . . . spoke with the DPO Obolo Afor Division and he says those officers may be patrol officers or SARS operatives, not officers attached to his station. I told him that he needs to identify them, recover the money and make sure they are appropriately disciplined. He promises to revert.

“NOPRIN is following up to ensure that justice is done in this case, to ensure that more citizens travelling this season are not subjected to similar intimidation, mistreatment and extortion.”

Condemning the action of the extortionist policemen, the NOPRIN Executive Director said: “This cannot be happening to citizens in a democratic society, especially where anti-corruption is a major signature commitment. The police hierarchy needs to give a definite and firm directive to police officers, especially in the Southeast, to dismantle all illegal checkpoints and desist from harassing citizens travelling home.

“The ban on illegal checkpoints, to the best of my knowledge, remains in force and must be complied with by police officers everywhere.

“Police officers should continue to patrol and stop mounting illegal roadblocks where they harass, intimidate, extort and delay citizens in transit.”