Christmas: Igbo Group Decries Perennial Extortion of Ndigbo by Nigerian Security Operatives, Calls For Order

Alisigwe Nkemdirim.

The Youth Wing of an Igbo socio-cultural group, Ndigbo United Forum has lamented against the gross extortion of motorists and traders in South East by the men of Nigerian Security Operatives, describing the backdrop as a major challenge that has defied all prescribed solutions.

According to a statement issued on behalf of the organization by the National Youth Leader of Ndigbo United Forum, Mazi Akachukwu Nnaemeka and his Media Aide, Comrade Ifeanyi Obute stressed that “this normalized criminality, usually takes a dramatic dimension during the Yuletide Season, when Ndigbo, who are overwhelmingly Christians, and as such, Christmas celebrants and merry-makers, travel home for the Yuletide

“The reckless brazenness of the ungodly act, is truly very embarrassing. Infact, it can be best described as an enthroned criminality on the streets of South East, by the people that are supposed to be fighting crimes. The socioeconomic strangulation of such act can never be overemphasized. The economic losses and setbacks is just beyond imagination”

The group added that the situation is usually very chaotic, dangerous and maniacal as all the branches of the Nigerian Security Outfits, viz-a-viz the Police, Army, Navy, FRSC, Customs, NDLEA, Civil Defence among others will troop out en mass to all the roads in South East region, with the primary purpose of extorting the motorists and traders.

The NUF while decrying that serial calls to end the anomaly yielded no positive results, noted that investigative reports have been carried out and documented on the ugly development.

“They will mount countless checkpoints on the very bad roads we have here, thereby causing untold inconveniences to the road users. This perennial problem, has been condemned in the past. Multiple reports have been released to that effect, yet no enduring solution has been put in place”

“EVEN THE JUST CONCLUDED END SARS PROTESTS ACROSS NIGERIA, DID NOT PUT AN END TO THE EXTORTION; FOR IT IS EVIDENTIALLY TRUE THAT THE NIGERIAN POLICE AND HER SISTER SECURITY AGENCIES ARE STILL EXTORTING NDIGBO MOTORISTS AND TRADERS THAT USE THE ROADS.
NDIGBO UNITED FORUM-YOUTH WING, TOOK OUT TIME TO TOUR THE SOUTH EAST STATES BEFORE MAKING THIS REPORT”

“THE EXTORTION IS STILL ONGOING!
We are very bittered because we wear the shoe, and as such, know how painful it has been pinching us.
A detailed survey carried out by InterSociety Nigeria, covering a three year period (2015-2017), reported on Premium Times Newspaper by Samuel Ogundipe, and published on the 24th of December 2018; revealed that Nigerian Security Operatives dispossessed the South Easterners of over a 100 billion Naira of their hard earned money within that 3 years. What a grand theft, what an economic sabotage!”

“Also, Vanguard Newspaper Reporters on 13th October 2020, released their own findings, affirming the earlier report from the survey carried out by InterSociety group. In their own version, there are over 3000 Police and Army checkpoints in the South East region. Mind you, South East has the worst road networks. Hence, those checkpoints littering our roads and highways, are more or less, contributing to severe discomfort on the part of the commuters”

The youth wing of Ndigbo United Forum frowned at the manner the South Eastern part of the country with zero banditry and terrorist threats is being militarized instead of the very other disturbed zones and parts of the country.

“Very importantly too, South East region is unarguably the most peaceful region in Nigeria, consequently the logical justification for the battalions of checkpoints is indeed, a very hard nut to crack. Analysts have been trying very hard to comprehend the rationale behind the militarization of the peaceful zone. There is now banditry or terrorism in the South East, yet there police and military checkpoints all over the places. Averagely, over 600 checkpoints in each of the 5 South Eastern States”

“The problem becomes very heightened in the Yuletide. Its negative and discomforting effects, becomes extremely highlighted during the Festive seasons, hence the UNEQUIVOCAL CALL BY NDIGBO UNITED FORUM-YOUTH WING, ON ALL THE SECURITY AGENCIES OPERATING IN SOUTHEAST REGION TO IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUE THOSE UNHEALTHY PRACTICES FORTHWITH”

NUF call on the Federal and state governments, well meaning Nigerians as well as civil society organisations to do the needful and lend their voice to stop the menace.

“All the harassments, extortions, intimidations, deliberate socioeconomic sabotage etc, has to stop. We call on all relevant stakeholders, Governmental and NGOs to join their voices to ours in this legitimate demand”

“South East and Ndigbo, must stop being used as the fattened cow for mindless milking. The embarrassment and deliberate subjugation need to cease with immediate effect. Ndigbo United Forum-Youth Wing, and other well meaning Ndigbo, and even non Igbos that are unbiased, are clearly seeing the economic strangulation.
In fairness, there are good and professional Officers and men of the Nigerian Law Enforcement Agencies. We appreciate their sacrifices and efforts, their contributions to our security is highly appreciated; but still, truth has to be told that most of them that are operating in South East, are mostly preoccupied with devising the best means of extorting the masses; hence the employment of civilian touts by the military for their extortion, the concealment of money in books by drivers to the officers and men of FRSC etc. It is mostly the regular police that are usually very open and brazen in the shameful act.
Finally, we call on the South East Governors,Senators, House of Reps Members, Ministers etc, to come to our rescue”

“Their vocal and vehement condemnations of such acts, will go along way in stopping it. Let them engage the Military Commanders, Police CPs, FRSC Sector Commanders etc, in the South East region. It would be a far better Christmas gift, than their usual cups of rice and salt. The people needs constant reassurances that our political leaders are always looking out for us”

“Ndigbo United Forum-Youth Wing, wishes all Ndigbo a blissful and fulfilling Christmas celebrations.
We strongly stand against police extortion of our people in this Festive Season”

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