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We’re being treated like slaves at checkpoints — S’East road users

We’re being treated like slaves at checkpoints — S’East road users
Many people using major roads in the South-East region say they are still being subjected to harrowing experiences at various security checkpoints.
Motorists in a report by Vanguard accused the security agents especially soldiers of open extortion and passengers were being embarrassed intimidated and humiliated.
They said passengers, irrespective of their age, health status or weather condition, were made to disembark from their vehicles to cross the checkpoints on foot, to rejoin their vehicles which are only allowed to meet them across the checkpoint after the driver must have been forced to cough out some money. Their journey is delayed without apology. No commuters and motorists would dare make or answer telephone calls near or around the checkpoints, no matter the emergency of the call.
This is reportedly done with impunity; a situation said to be subduing an entire region.
This subduing mentality at the checkpoints is said to be getting out of hand.
Despite cries and complaints by Ndigbo leaders, including members of the National Assembly caucus, against these degrading practices, the military and police high command are yet to call their men to order.
It’s daylight robbery —Rights group
Speaking to this, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi, a trained criminologist and board chairman, Inter-society for civil liberty and rule of law, a foremost rights advocate, described the level of extortion on the roads in the region as daylight robbery.
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“It is a horrible situation but let me start by saying that what we have in the South-East now is a combination of state actors and non-state actors, armed robbers; that is armed robbers in the sense of highway robbery through massive extortion.
“If you look at the military law, for Instance, the provision of Armed Forces Act 2004, has provisions for offence against extortion and the law clearly explains extortion as a way of obtaining money or any other material through the use of force. And it is being rapaciously and indiscriminately perpetuated on South-East roads. Yet nobody has been punished according to the law. What is happening on South- East roads is a very horrible experience.
“This is a situation where the people of the zone and people plying the roads in the region have been subjected to torture – physical and physiological. You see a situation where people face intimidation, harassment and sometimes random arrest and abduction, especially at night hours. Those who embark on night travels are subjected to more horrible experience in torture, intimidation and harassment. It is a terrible situation in the South-East since 2015, and worst of all is that it is being perpetrated by the military.
“There is this culture of impunity. There are two things that are responsible for the inability to tackle this siege mentality and intimidation in the South-East. One has to do with the increasing or alarming rate of impunity where the military officers seem to have lost control of the junior ones, because one thing about corruption is that if you want to fight corruption in an organisation, the anti- corruption pusher has to start with the leaders who are operating the system. So, if you are an employer and you lead the way of corruption; what do you want your employees to do? They will follow your footsteps. So, that is the situation we have.
“The second factor is the ‘returns’ culture. Every military\police officer is (allegedly) a beneficiary of the large scale extortions. This is not the issue of whether their senior officers are aware. They are fully aware and they benefit from the extortion and that is why it is thriving.
“For instance, the Nigeria Naval Base in Ogbaru has a checkpoint at Uga junction in Onitsha, Anambra State; and a lot of money is extorted there on a daily basis. There is direct and indirect extortion. Everyone around there, including the petty trader, is being extorted. The officers posted there, in a short time, change their cars and begin to live large. Any one of them that stays between 6 months and one year would have several commercial tricycles, shuttle buses and even L300 buses plying for them.
“The same thing goes on at the Asaba Army checkpoint at the Onitsha-Asaba end of the road. If you go to Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi states, the entire South-East region, checkpoints are dotted at short intervals, and it is the same business at each of them”, Umeagbalasi lamented.
Continuing, he said: “I think we are facing three sets of wars in the South-East, first the presumed genocide by security operatives; secondly the Jihadist Fulani herdsmen and bandits, and thirdly, the rise of both government and non- government-linked criminal entities, counterfeit agitators and others who specialise in sundry street violent activities like kidnap for ransom, armed robbery, trafficking in persons, illicit drug and illegal arms.
“And it is difficult to tackle because today in Nigeria, over 800 civil society organisations that ought to speak against these ills have government links. They are the people spoiling the work of civil society organisations. They are being funded by the government and therefore can’t challenge any evil action by the government.”
Umeagbalasi, therefore, called on the few independent civil society organisations and media to wake up to their duties and ensure that these ills are stopped.
We’re being treated like slaves at checkpoints — S’East road users
metro
EKEDC blames faulty transmission lines for poor power supply in Lagos

EKEDC blames faulty transmission lines for poor power supply in Lagos
Lagos residents have been grappling with persistent power outages as the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Monday attributed the situation to faults on the 330kV transmission lines supplying power to the region.
In a statement signed by EKEDC, the company explained that the reduced power allocation from its partners at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has led to load-shedding across its network.
“This is to kindly update you that we are still experiencing reduced power allocation from our TCN partners due to faults on the 330kV lines feeding the Lagos region,” EKEDC said.
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The company assured customers that efforts are underway to restore normal supply in collaboration with TCN and other stakeholders.
“Rest assured that we are taking all necessary steps to address the situation as we work closely with TCN and other partners to resolve the issue and ensure a more stable power supply soonest.”
Lagos has been experiencing erratic power supply since last week, with many residents expressing frustration over the prolonged outages.
The statement, however, did not specify a timeline for full restoration, leaving many Lagosians uncertain about when they can expect improved electricity supply.
EKEDC blames faulty transmission lines for poor power supply in Lagos
metro
BREAKING: Rivers Assembly issues warrant of arrest on RISIEC chairman

BREAKING: Rivers Assembly issues warrant of arrest on RISIEC chairman
The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant of arrest on the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd) following his refusal to appear before the lawmakers.
The arrest warrant was issued on Monday by the lawmakers during a plenary after the 72-hour ultimatum they gave to Enebeli expired.
The lawmakers on Friday last week renewed the ultimatum from 48 hours to 72 to enable the RISIEC boss appear on the floor of the House to answer questions on the circumstances that surrounded the nullified October 2024 local government elections.
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- Tension in Oyo as residents protest 23-day curfew for Alaafin’s traditional rites
- Rivers: Channel your invitation properly, Speaker Amaewhule tells Gov Fubara
- Workers of Oyo tertiary institutions begin indefinite strike
Enebeli was expected to appear alongside other RISIEC commissioners, but failed to do so.
The RISIEC boss and his commissioners, however, filed a suit at the State High Court challenging the resolutions of the lawmakers.
BREAKING: Rivers Assembly issues warrant of arrest on RISIEC chairman
metro
Tension in Oyo as residents protest 23-day curfew for Alaafin’s traditional rites

Tension in Oyo as residents protest 23-day curfew for Alaafin’s traditional rites
There is palpable tension in the ancient town of Oyo as residents react to the 23-day curfew announced by Rotimi Osuntola, Chief of Staff to the newly appointed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade.
The curfew, which follows the commencement of Oro Ipebi, is part of the traditional rites leading up to the formal ascension of the Alaafin.
However, the timing of the curfew, which comes just six days into the Ramadan fast, has sparked criticism from Islamic scholars, legal practitioners, and academics. Some have described the decision as insensitive and an infringement on religious and human rights.
A former Amir of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Professor Taofiq Yekini, strongly condemned the move, calling it an “invitation to crisis.” He criticized the timing, stating that it disrupts essential religious activities during Ramadan.
“It is insensitive. The issue of the rites to the throne was delayed to the period of Ramadan when we knew that the period of Ramadan, morning and night, are usually characterised by activities. Then you are now imposing a curfew at the period when you know that the Muslims will be busy morning and night throughout this period, that is insensitivity. It is insensitivity on the part of the people that declared it and even the government for allowing such to stay.
So, if the Muslims now react, they will be blaming the Muslims. We want the general public to know that this is an invitation to crisis. That is what they are calling for,” he said.
Dr. Mikail Abdulsalam, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Ibadan, expressed concerns that the curfew could lead to religious conflict if not addressed. He emphasized that restricting movement in the name of traditional rites is a violation of human rights.
“The imposition of curfew is a violation of human rights. Declaring a curfew in the name of the appointment of a new king or traditional rites for the new king is a violation of human rights. It is quite unfortunate that no single human rights advocate has ever condemned this. If it is the Muslims that did this, some people will say it is anti-people.
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“Why will they tell people not to move between 8pm and 5am when some people may need urgent medical attention?
“That is a prime time for some people to do their businesses. So, declaring curfew in the name of traditional rites is a violation of human rights. We are civilized beyond all these things and it is barbaric. It is unconstitutional. You cannot say because someone wants to become king, people should not go out, who is he going to rule?
“Painfully, no one is condemning it, the security agencies, the state and local governments are not saying anything about it. Why is it that a single entity is declaring curfew when we have the government?
“Muslims need to go out and observe Solat Ishai and that will be affected, and if this is not taken seriously, it can lead to religious conflicts. I am at liberty to go out at that time to pray under the Nigerian constitution, so, I have never for once infringed on other people’s rights and you are telling me not to go, so, it is an infringement on my right; it may lead to religious conflicts, go and write it down. If it does not happen today, it will happen somewhere in Yoruba land if they continue like this.
“It is like gunpowder, it is going to blow one day. If people say that they want to go out and pray and you see some people saying they should arrest them, then it can lead to conflicts.” he said
Dr. Sulaiman Adewale Alagunfon, an Islamic scholar and Director of the Academy of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ibadan, described the situation as a test from Allah. He urged Muslims in Oyo to remain steadfast despite the restrictions.
“This situation serves as a test of our Islamic faith and reveals where the new king truly stands. For a purported ‘Muslim’ king to declare and enforce such anti-Islamic measures, citing ‘traditional rites’ during this sacred month, clearly highlights his true allegiance. As we have observed throughout his nomination, it has become evident that he does not genuinely adhere to Islam, even though he retains his Muslim name as a façade.
“This singular act demonstrates his opposition to Islam and the Muslim community. If he were truly observing the fast and fulfilling his Islamic obligations as a Muslim, he would understand the profound disrespect it shows to the feelings of Muslims to restrict movement during a month when the ‘nights’ hold great significance for our faith. He would recognize that night prayers, such as Tarawih, Tahajjud, and Laylat al-Qadr, as well as Sahur, are essential practices that require Muslims to move from one place to another during the nights of Ramadan for various reasons.
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“I urge the Muslims in Oyo Town to remain steadfast and committed to their acts of worship during this holy month of Ramadan. The imposition of a curfew should be viewed as a test from Allah, who wants to see how dedicated Muslims can be in challenging circumstances,” he stated.
An Ibadan-based lawyer, Barrister Abiodun Amole, condemned the curfew as unconstitutional and unjustifiable. He argued that the curfew violates Section 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of movement.
“Without mincing words, the declaration of a 23-day curfew in the ancient town of Oyo under the guise of performing Ipebi rites is a gross violation of the spirit and letter of Section of Section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which guarantees citizens’ right to freedom of movement.
“The so-called curfew is extra-constitutional, unilateral, inconsiderate and unjustifiable to say the least. Section 41(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) expressly provides thus: ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereto or exit therefrom’.
“Furthermore, the purported curfew is also contrary to Article 13(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on 10th December, 1948 and Article 12 (1) of the African Charter On Human and Peoples’ Rights. Article 13(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states thus: ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state’.
“In a similar vein, Article 12(1) of the African Charter On Human and Peoples’ Rights provides that: ‘Every individual shall have the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of a State provided he abides by the law’. Having regard to the above clear provisions of the grundnorm and the two treaties to which the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a signatory, the scenario currently playing out in Oyo town amounts to sheer illegality.
“Any traditional rites that infringe on citizens’ rights in any way or manner whatsoever cannot stand in a democratic society where the rule of law is sacrosanct.” Amole argued.
Dr. Bayonle Busari, a lecturer at Lead City University, warned that if the curfew is not reviewed, it may lead to a breakdown of law and order. He emphasized that the situation must be handled carefully to avoid rebellion.
“There is the need to handle the coronation rites with caution so as not to make living difficult for the subjects who Kabiyesi will rule over. There may be an obvious clash between tradition and the right to free movement and religion, which the constitution guarantees as inalienable.
“The period coincides with the fasting month of both Muslims and Christians who form the larger percentage of the indigenes and residents of the ancient town.
“Not only this, Oyo town is a corridor for those who commute between the north and south of the country, and the restriction will obviously curtail their movement.
“I think, in view of the prevailing time, the restriction could be reviewed in a way that will not lead to a probable rebellion and breakdown of law and order.”
Tension in Oyo as residents protest 23-day curfew for Alaafin’s traditional rites
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