Some human right groups have called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Idris Katun Ibrahim to dismantle road blocks mounted by his men on the South East roads.

The Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Foundation (HURIJE), stated this in a statement jointly signed by the groups made available to journalists in Awka, calling on the Inspector General of police to order for immediate dismantling of all road blocks in the South East.
The groups allayed their fears that the continuous stay on the SE roads by the policemen may pose greater danger to the people of the zone, alleging that their operations have become haven for corruption, extortion and intimidation.
The statement, signed by the chairman Board of Trustee (BoT) of HURIJE and national publicity secretary of CD, Comrade Dede Uzor A Uzor, announced that there were not less than hundred road blocks mounted by the Police in different roads in South East.
He explained that travelling from Onitsha to Owerri, axis of the Major South east road session has about 25 road blocks,while Enugu-Porthacourt session records about 28, Enugu -Owerri, 16, Onitsha-Enugu, 24, Onitsha -Orlu, 18 among others.
The group lamented that the essence of their being posted on the road does not defeat the challenges people face daily in the hands of the policemen while using the highways.
He alleged further that the Policemen who are supposed to be seen checkmating crimes and criminality are busy extortion and molesting unsuspecting motorists who use the roads.
The right groups went further to explain that their present though constitute hardship to innocent road users and as well turn to a gold mine for the police operatives posted to the different police check points on the eastern road of the country.
" They do not provide us the expected security again. They have grossly abused road blocks. Road blocks have outlived their usefulness in this part of the country.
'They should be scrapped and dismantled immediately. Why is it that it is only in the South East that the Police mount larger chunk of their road blocks'.
'You don't see much of Police road blocks in the North and West, but here they use it to make money". The rights groups alleged .
The human right groups however commended President Muhammadu Buhari for yielding to the people's call that ended the long stay of men of the Nigeria Army, mounting road blocks in various parts of the South East region of the country.
The groups noted further that the removal of military road blocks have brought about semblance of reliefs to the people of the zone, especially travellers.
'We want to use this medium to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for acting fast by dismantling the Army road blocks we used to have on our highways, but we urged the President not to extend the tenure of the serving IGP. Idris Katun Ibrahim, the groups noted.
The groups therefore expressed fear that some people are currently requesting that the president should extend the IGP's tenure according to them, such action may discourage some police officers serving in the zone from delivering on their core mandate, as an organisation that has the constitutional rights of protecting internal security.
'Beyond this, the groups, have it on good authority that the present IG has not done well to deserve the extension,we do not see the need for him lobbying the president to be returned after his due for retirement'
'What we are saying in essence is that he should proceed on retirement leave from February 2019 to give way for brighter and younger officers to come on board,the group maintained.
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Dey can't stop it..