₦airaland Forum

Hundreds of South East residents returning home for Christmas and New Year celebrations were stranded for hours at a military checkpoint on Enugu-Opi Road.

Soldiers allegedly blocked the only access road, extorting travellers and causing chaos.

A video clip shared with SaharaReporters on Wednesday evening shows hundreds of vehicles at the checkpoint, with travellers lamenting the alleged inhumane treatment they face at the hands of Nigerian security agencies, particularly in the South East.

Accompanying the video clip, the source wrote: "Look at the mayhem soldiers are causing at Opi junction in Enugu State.

"All they know how to do is to extort money from innocent Nigerians whilst terrorists dance Samba in Sambisa forest."

A voice in the video can be overheard saying, "Please, somebody should call the 82 Division to tell the soldiers to allow people to go to their destinations. We are coming from the North and there's nowhere passengers were subjected to this kind of horror and humiliation.

"Why is it only in the South East that you see this kind of militarization? Are we less Nigerians?"

The incident has sparked outrage, with many questioning why such militarisation is allegedly only seen in the South East.

Travellers are calling for government intervention, asking why they are being subjected to such treatment while terrorists roam free in other parts of the country.

The Enugu-Opi Road has become notorious for kidnappings and armed attacks, with residents living in fear of their safety.

This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about extortion, harassment, and militarisation in the South-East region.

There have been repeated calls for an end to the unlawful extortion of motorists in the region, with many checkpoints allegedly being used as opportunities for bribery and corruption.

Meanwhile, efforts made by SaharaReporters to speak with the spokesperson for the Joint Task Force (South-East), code-named “Operation UDO KA”, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, were unsuccessful as he did not answer his calls.


https://saharareporters.com/2024/12/25/alleged-extortion-nigerian-soldiers-accused-blocking-major-south-east-road-targeting

These kind of treatments made the Israelites unbeatable today. Let them continue militarizing the region until someday it’ll spiral to something else.

They should legally put toll gates with e-cards/electronic payment systems on major highways and let the revenue be going to govt directly instead of all these rubbish from police, army and agberos

There could be unknown gunmen among the travelers so it’s good that the military are being alert. The South East is a den of insecurity presently.

Nothing is too much to sacrifice for security. I support the Nigerian army.

What I don’t support is soldiers collecting money from people. That’s corruption.

It is a monumental disgrace.

The journey to and fro the Onitsha bridges are hellish. First at Okwe junction the patch is very bad and difficult to navigate. The traffic there can keep you for hours sometimes, with traffic stretching towards Boromeo.

After beating the bad road traffic, the soldiers have blocked the road up front. Driving from Oko market junction to the military checkpoint is disgraceful. The soldiers stand aloof, while collecting tolls from bus and truck drivers by all means possible. When you drive past those soldiers and approach the bridges, especially the old bridges, police men lie in wait. Infact you first encounter one group immediately after the soldiers. The police personnel at the old bridge can be likened to date devil armed robbers. The collect tolls from buses and okada riders, while issuing them numbers by voice as certification that they paid their toll.

It is so embarrassing how these security agents have turned their uniforms and guns into private businesses for the sole purpose of extortion. The area seems very lucrative for them and you always see them happily collecting money.

So in the final analysis, one cannot but conclude that the reason while security agents are easily gunned down at checkpoints is their self imposed distraction and greed for money from road users.

LegendHero:
There could be unknown gunmen among the travelers so it’s good that the military are being alert. The South East is a den of insecurity presently.

Nothing is too much to sacrifice for security. I support the Nigerian army.

What I don’t support is soldiers collecting money from people. That’s corruption.

Stealing money from motorists is being alert?

Southeast den of insecurity? When the army is part of the insecurity by stealing from motorists.

LegendHero:
There could be unknown gunmen among the travelers so it’s good that the military are being alert. The South East is a den of insecurity presently.

Nothing is too much to sacrifice for security. I support the Nigerian army.

What I don’t support is soldiers collecting money from people. That’s corruption.

South West has more kidnapping than South East

Villages in the South West sacked banned from going to farm
You paid more ransom but never not once have you talked about South West insecurity

mrvitalis:
South West has more kidnapping than South East

Villages in the South West sacked banned from going to farm
You paid more ransom but never not once have you talked about South West insecurity

Exactly why there are lot of military checkpoints in the South East. The military are very scared of kidnappers and unknown gunmen so they never bothered to be in the SW so they spend most of their time in the peaceful South East.

Are you happy now?

MasterJayJay:
Stealing money from motorists is being alert?

Southeast den of insecurity? When the army is part of the insecurity by stealing from motorists.

Their primary reason is not to collect money from motorists. They should be reported for that corruption.

Their primary duty is to protect the SE people from criminals, unknown gunmen, and IPOB terrorists that have made the region the worst in terms of insecurity. Infact, the region is currently worse than the North East.

LegendHero:
Exactly why there are lot of military checkpoints in the South East. The military are very scared of kidnappers and unknown gunmen so they never bothered to be in the SW so they spend most of their time in the peaceful South East.

Are you happy now?

No! The military are interested in the stealing.
Stealing points under the guise of checkpoints.

LegendHero:
Exactly why there are lot of military checkpoints in the South East. The military are very scared of kidnappers and unknown gunmen so they never bothered to be in the SW so they spend most of their time in the peaceful South East.

Are you happy now?

You are absolutely wrong and need to be properly informed before making such unguarded and uninformed comment.

LegendHero:
Their primary reason is not to collect money from motorists. They should be reported for that corruption.

Their primary duty is to protect the SE people from criminals, unknown gunmen, and IPOB terrorists that have made the region the worst in terms of insecurity. Infact, the region is currently worse than the North East.

Worst than North East, according to? I guess vultures of babablus survey!!

Forumites:
These kind of treatments made the Israelites unbeatable today. Let them continue militarizing the region until someday it’ll spiral to something else.

It's well. Extortion is wrong

gidgiddy:
Hundreds of South East residents returning home for Christmas and New Year celebrations were stranded for hours at a military checkpoint on Enugu-Opi Road.

Soldiers allegedly blocked the only access road, extorting travellers and causing chaos.

A video clip shared with SaharaReporters on Wednesday evening shows hundreds of vehicles at the checkpoint, with travellers lamenting the alleged inhumane treatment they face at the hands of Nigerian security agencies, particularly in the South East.

Accompanying the video clip, the source wrote: "Look at the mayhem soldiers are causing at Opi junction in Enugu State.

"All they know how to do is to extort money from innocent Nigerians whilst terrorists dance Samba in Sambisa forest."

A voice in the video can be overheard saying, "Please, somebody should call the 82 Division to tell the soldiers to allow people to go to their destinations. We are coming from the North and there's nowhere passengers were subjected to this kind of horror and humiliation.

"Why is it only in the South East that you see this kind of militarization? Are we less Nigerians?"

The incident has sparked outrage, with many questioning why such militarisation is allegedly only seen in the South East.

Travellers are calling for government intervention, asking why they are being subjected to such treatment while terrorists roam free in other parts of the country.

The Enugu-Opi Road has become notorious for kidnappings and armed attacks, with residents living in fear of their safety.

This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about extortion, harassment, and militarisation in the South-East region.

There have been repeated calls for an end to the unlawful extortion of motorists in the region, with many checkpoints allegedly being used as opportunities for bribery and corruption.

Meanwhile, efforts made by SaharaReporters to speak with the spokesperson for the Joint Task Force (South-East), code-named “Operation UDO KA”, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, were unsuccessful as he did not answer his calls.


https://saharareporters.com/2024/12/25/alleged-extortion-nigerian-soldiers-accused-blocking-major-south-east-road-targeting

THE SOLDIERS ARE THERE BECAUSE OF TERRORISTS LIKE YOU.

WHEN YOU STOP KILLING AND TERRORISING YOUR FELLOW IGBOS, THE SOLDIERS WILL STOP BLOCKING YOUR ROADS AND COLLECTING TAX FROM YOU FOR THEIR WORK.

BUNCH OF DIRTY TERRORISTS.

YOU CARE ABOUT SOLDIERS SUPPOSEDLY “EXTORTING” DRIVERS (WITH ZERO EVIDENCE PROVIDED), BUT YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT THE MILLIONS OF IGBOS BEATEN UP, KILLED, AND FORCED BY IPOB THUGS TO SIT AT HOME AT GUNPOINT EVERY MONDAY, LOSING THEIR DAILY EARNINGS.

WORTHLESS, DIRTY TERRORIST YOU.

Topman7:
THE SOLDIERS ARE THERE BECAUSE OF TERRORISTS LIKE YOU.

WHEN YOU STOP KILLING AND TERRORISING YOUR FELLOW IGBOS, THE SOLDIERS WILL STOP BLOCKING YOUR ROADS AND COLLECTING TAX FROM YOU FOR THEIR WORK.

BUNCH OF DIRTY TERRORISTS.

YOU CARE ABOUT SOLDIERS SUPPOSEDLY “EXTORTING” DRIVERS (WITH ZERO EVIDENCE PROVIDED), BUT YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT THE MILLIONS OF IGBOS BEATEN UP, KILLED, AND FORCED BY IPOB THUGS TO SIT AT HOME AT GUNPOINT EVERY MONDAY, LOSING THEIR DAILY EARNINGS.

WORTHLESS, DIRTY TERRORIST YOU.

We wonder why the Soldiers are not like that in other places with worse insecurity? The SE has since been shown to be the safest place in Nigeria, but your Nigerian soldiers are mounting roadblocks everywhere to extort people

You guys don't care about insecurity, only care about using insecurity to play politics

Sometimes I feel most of this gunmen members are on this site! Are you not people happy that the numbers of Monday prisoners activities has reduced since the intensity of the roadblocks,you all should be happy!

LegendHero:
There could be unknown gunmen among the travelers so it’s good that the military are being alert. The South East is a den of insecurity presently.

Nothing is too much to sacrifice for security. I support the Nigerian army.

What I don’t support is soldiers collecting money from people. That’s corruption.

We will be here in the future when this same military will start dealing with you guys in the south west. No be Nigeria again? Last time under Abacha, the whole country was supporting you guys, but right now we all know you for your slimmy and treacherous ways. Na turn by turn. Una go hear am

MadPolitician:
We will be here in the future when this same military will start dealing with you guys in the south west. No be Nigeria again? Last time under Abacha, the whole country was supporting you guys, but right now we all know you for your slimmy and treacherous ways. Na turn by turn. Una go hear am

Whole country supporting us by you guys doing one million march for Abacha or by Ojuku calling for death sentence for Abiola?

You can only lie to your village dummiess.

By day, they cry their pitiful, weak crocodile tears, lamenting how Igbos are "flooding" Lagos and the Southwest. By night, their vile hypocrisy takes full charge as they unleash soldiers and policemen across the East—not to the blood-soaked battlefronts of Zamfara, Katsina, or Sokoto, but to suppress a people they fear and cannot control. Cowardice wrapped in deceit!

The money extorted from motorists in the East is greater than the igr generated in Lagos and Abuja.

Now you know where our igr is channeled to.

Forumites:
These kind of treatments made the Israelites unbeatable today. Let them continue militarizing the region until someday it’ll spiral to something else.

Igbos are brave people. They don't fear anyone. I expected them to come down from their buses and chase those soldiers at the checkpoint away into the bush. I wonder why they didn't.

mrvitalis:
South West has more kidnapping than South East

Villages in the South West sacked banned from going to farm
You paid more ransom but never not once have you talked about South West insecurity

Maybe, just maybe because the military knows the SE is full of weaklings that can be bullied easily (at least they would've noticed how able bodied men hide under their beds every Monday at the order of one 20 something year old content creator from faraway Finland), while they can't try what they do their in other regions?

its funny how politicians that talk all day get paid more than the people defendin you with their lifes....

its worldwide the same thing....
a bag of rice for a family of eight for the whole month....

gidgiddy:
We wonder why the Soldiers are not like that in other places with worse insecurity? The SE has since been shown to be the safest place in Nigeria, but your Nigerian soldiers are mounting roadblocks everywhere to extort people

You guys don't care about insecurity, only care about using insecurity to play politics

The soldiers are not like that in other places because people would've protested and made them stop the rubbish. The soldiers can do anything in the SE because they know you guys will only make noise without any action. Everyone knows all the SE can do is just chestbeat (the "make dem arrest our supleme reader and see Nigeria burn", or the "no power in Africa" crap from the runaway Ojucrook).

Brenbentondiaz:
The soldiers are not like that in other places because people would've protested and made them stop the rubbish. The soldiers can do anything in the SE because they know you guys will only make noise without any action. Everyone knows all the SE can do is just chestbeat (the "make dem arrest our supleme reader and see Nigeria burn", or the "no power in Africa" crap from the runaway Ojucrook).

yes....south easterners are easy victims....nobody go take them serious when they complain....they offend people too much....

its like the boy that was always cryin wolf....

MadPolitician:
We will be here in the future when this same military will start dealing with you guys in the south west. No be Nigeria again? Last time under Abacha, the whole country was supporting you guys, but right now we all know you for your slimmy and treacherous ways. Na turn by turn. Una go hear am

They tried it before in the SW (after June 12). The SW still won after a protracted battle. They know the SE is just noise. That's why it will continue until they achieve the aim of going there.

MadPolitician:
We will be here in the future when this same military will start dealing with you guys in the south west. No be Nigeria again? Last time under Abacha, the whole country was supporting you guys, but right now we all know you for your slimmy and treacherous ways. Na turn by turn. Una go hear am

The whole country was supporting the SW during Abacha? Really? Like Nzeribe? Or Kanu's 1 million man march? Maybe your lying grandfather didn't tell you it was igbos that supported the north in truncating June 12. Always hilarious when igbos accuse others for treachery. You louts are always ready to accuse others of what you're widely known for.

LegendHero:
There could be unknown gunmen among the travelers so it’s good that the military are being alert. The South East is a den of insecurity presently.

Nothing is too much to sacrifice for security. I support the Nigerian army.

What I don’t support is soldiers collecting money from people. That’s corruption.

When similar treatment comes to the South West, don't complain. You'll be reminded of this comment.

Brenbentondiaz:
The soldiers are not like that in other places because people would've protested and made them stop the rubbish. The soldiers can do anything in the SE because they know you guys will only make noise without any action. Everyone knows all the SE can do is just chestbeat (the "make dem arrest our supleme reader and see Nigeria burn", or the "no power in Africa" crap from the runaway Ojucrook).

It's good to know that you guys already know that the Nigerian Army are just rogues in uniform