Police Checkpoints: NUF-Youth Wing Call For Implementation of Hon Chidioka’s Motion

Nkemdirim Alisigwe.

An Igbo socio-political organization, Ndi-Igbo United Forum Youth Wing has called for the immediate implementation of Hon. Obinna Chidoka’s motion requesting the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of security agencies to dismantle all roadblocks from Lagos and Abuja to the Southeast with immediate.

The group made this known in a press release signed by the National Youth Leader, Mazi Akachukwu Nnaemeka (Gen. Ikpongo) Sunday, December 19, 2021.

The release which reads in parts states:

“We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, to quickly implement the Order from the hallowed Green Chambers that instructed all unnecessary police checkpoints from Lagos and Abuja down to South East region to be dismantled”

Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba

“Recall that this time last year, NUF-Youth Wing made a similar demand, wherein we outlined the humongous economic value of the police extortion of Ndigbo, all in the name of high way security”

“This time, Hon. Obinna Chidoka has repeated the same demand in the Green Chambers”

NUF-Youth Wing who decried the hardship the south easterners go through yearly especially during the Yuletide season said the demand is not only necessary but also coming at the right time to save the people from avoidable issues and face off with the police as usually recorded in the past.

“His courageous and timely call came amidst the crushing pains Ndigbo are being subjected to unnecessarily; especially during the Yuletide period. It is just too unbearable for us”

“Given the fact that Hon. Chidoka’s Motion was adopted, we are eager to see it being implemented. Let it not end as a Legislative Instruction; we want it to be fully implemented”

“In a Democracy, people’s wish, which has a legislative backing, must not be trifled with. The masses have spoken, and the people’s parliament gave her nod, nothing should stop the implementation of the people’s desire. Let all police checkpoints leading to the southeast from Abuja and Lagos, be dismantled as we demanded”

The group added that the demand is not directed at discrediting the efforts of the police force to secure lives and property of the people at the time, rather it calls for caution and total change in the usual narrative of extortion, traffic jam, manhandling of drivers, intimidation and road hazards among others.

“We understand the need for highway security, but even at that, the litany of police checkpoints littering the roads to South East region is a far cry from an effective solution”

“We appreciate the efforts of the police in safeguarding our roads, but it shouldn’t be by mounting roadblocks at every pole along our roads. The extortion, the traffic jams, the road hazards, etc. results in far more problems for our people than the possible security those checkpoints can offer”

“There are other security agencies providing road security. The Army is still on with their exercise Golden Dawn, their efforts is enough to effectively secure our roads during this Yuletide”

The youths stressed that the calls from the Hon. Osita Obinna Chidioka -representing Idemili North and South in the House of Representatives, the demand of the group, as well as that of South easterners should not be neglected if not it shall “mobilize against the NPF checkpoints littered all over South East region”

“We wish to unequivocally state that we are fully in support of Hon. Chidoka’s call and we are firmly demanding that it should be urgently implemented”

“NUF-Youth Wing is watching. Failure to heed the instructions from the House of Representatives, we would legitimately mobilize against the NPF checkpoints littered all over South East region”

“It is obvious that the checkpoint madness is on the highest level here in the South East region. Meanwhile, the South East region is relatively the most peaceful region. We just can’t understand. Let all the checkpoints be dismantled with immediate effect!”

…News Corner.