Checkpoints as threat to citizens’ safety
THE perennial menace, ( it is difficult No less a person than the Presidentto not to term it so) of police and General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Nnia militar y checkpoints on Nigerian Nwodo, reportedly accused security roads was brought to the fore by a agents of using the checkpoints to Southeast group, Cultural Credibility extort, harass, and intimidate road Development Initiative. It complained users. Vehicles, from motorcycles to in a letter to the Inspector General of large trucks are forced to pay varying Police ( IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, and the sums according to type and size of Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), General goods. It is also reported that checkLucky Irabor, about the ‘ strangulation points are deliberately set up on marof Igbo land with checkpoints’ and the ket roads. The question cannot but be “suffocation caused by the humongous asked: how can the security agencies number of checkpoints in Igboland.” receive cooperation and intelligence The group alleged existence of checkwhile they behave in ways that generpoints at ever y kilometer that create ate distrust and ill feeling against five- kilometer – long traffic snarl and them? demanded that these ‘ security’ posts be Checkpoint, by ordinary meaning of reduced by 75 per cent. the phrase, simply is ‘‘ a place where
A media report has gone so far as to traffic is stopped so that it can be say that the Southeast geopolitical checked’’ for any act of illegality. Of zone ‘‘ can be rightly said to be under course, it is used in other lands within siege by soldiers and the police.’’ While and at the borders. Alas, like many no one doubts that the nation is on the other things that are borrowed from precipice security- wise, police checkother jurisdictions, some crooked – points have been so abused as to comminded Nigerians have devised a way pound rather than relieve citizens of of bastardising a sound idea and a good their misery. This situation needs be process to enable them derive personal reformed. benefit. Indeed, with the aid of modern
Security officers at checkpoints have technology, human factor in checking been accused by not a few persons, people and vehicles for illegal items has high and low, of excesses that patently reduced. But those who would gain violate the rules of engagement on from not adopting this method will not their duty. House of Representatives let it happen. A journey that should member, Ifeanyi Momah, has gone so take a few hours ‘ costs’ hapless travfar as to accuse checkpoint officials of ellers twice or even thrice precious human rights abuse, ‘‘ devastating, time. The received opinion is that degrading, and inhuman treatment’’ checkpoints have been turned into ‘‘ toll of citizens that include whipping gates’’ and ‘‘ collecting centres.’’ women and searching traditional The menace of extortionate security rulers ‘‘ in an embarrassing manner .’’ men at checkpoints is nationwide.
Countless times, literally, police chiefs have directed their officers and men to desist from mounting checkpoints unless they are approved for specific reason. Successive IGPS have had to order their men off the road because they do not do what they ought to by law. Besides, they tend to go beyond their briefs. Policemen on legal checkpoints have been repeatedly told that they have no business checking the documents of vehicles, unless a particular vehicle is reported missing. They hardly comply with this simple order from ‘ above’. In late September 2017, the then IGP Ibrahim Idris ordered that checkpoints be dismantled ‘‘ to enable ease of business in Nigeria, safeguard and guarantee free passage of goods and travellers throughout the country.’’ Indeed, according to the police spokesperson, Moshood Jimoh, ‘‘ special X- squad teams of the force have been deployed throughout the country with strict instructions to arrest, investigate and discipline police personnel violating the IGP directive.’’ Mohammed Adamu had, in December 2019, directed that ‘‘ only checkpoints and nipping points that are operationally expedient for crime prevention and other forms of key duties’’ should be allowed on the roads. Adamu went further to specifically address the heart of the problem about checkpoints. He admonished that ‘ police officers posted on checkpoint duties are expected to eschew corruption … be firm… courteous and polite to citizens.’’ That was two years ago. If anything changed, the Cultural Credibility Development Initiative, the Ohaneze
Ndigbo leader and the House of Representatives would have no cause to lament.
Early December 2021, a resolution of the House of Representatives asked the IGP to order that ‘‘ illegal and unnecessary checkpoints’’ be dismantled. Where checkpoints were not properly mounted, they have caused accidents many times. Just one example: along the Owerri- Onitsha road, on November 28, 2021, a fully loaded articulated truck rammed into vehicles stopped at a check point. 20 people were killed.
Clearly, checkpoints are not serving the pure and simple purpose that they are meant for. In the Southeast, police posts are attacked and sacked at will, About 30 communities are reported to have been taken over by criminal elements. These are happening all over the country. Criminals move freely on highways, terrorists with ease, trucks transporting aliens with their deadly arms hidden on the floor of the vehicles move through so- called checkpoints. Often, it is the local vigilante teams that accost, detect and arrest them, not at all the officials at the checkpoints.
The current IGP Baba promised, on assumption of duty in April 2021, a police force ‘‘ guided by the principles of public accountability … conformity with the rule of law, compassionate servants and helpers of citizens.’’ Unfortunately, the conduct of his subordinates at checkpoints denies these good intentions. They constitute an existential threat to the convenience and safety of road users. Baba has much work to do to bring his wishes into reality.