Members of the House of Representatives recently called for the removal of multiple security checkpoints on roads in the country, especially those in the Southeast region. Daily Trust sought opinions of Nigerians on the matter.
Chris Ali, 34, Civil Servant, Port Harcourt
Removal of checkpoints will not be good in the fight against criminality, particularly kidnapping, cultism and armed robbery. Criminals pass through checkpoints and are arrested in most cases. Its removal will create panic in the mind of motorists. It should not be scrapped, rather checkpoints should be reorganized in a way that the officers manning it would stop intimidating and harassing innocent motorists.
Edmond Chinyekwam Nwachukwu, 45, Advertising Practioner/Artist, Enugu
I won’t advocate for the total removal of security checkpoints from roads in the southeast zone of Nigeria. But I must say that the number of such checkpoints could be reduced. Take for instance, from Zik Avenue to Garki, Enugu, which is less than 20-minutes’ drive, there are about six police checkpoints within that route in the same Enugu capital. I think this makes the exercise seem unserious because the security men on the checkpoints extort from commercial drivers rather than do actual security checks.
However I am not advocating for total removal. Once, I boarded a tricycle plying from Zik Avenue to Mayor Bus-Stop along Agbani Road. I didn’t know that some passengers had guns. It was the police men at a checkpoint around HRC on Zik Avenue that detected the armed robbers. Without the checkpoint, those robbers would have gone ahead to execute their operation. So we need security checkpoints, despite its negative side.
Peter Ezeh, 41, Photo Laboratory Operator, Enugu
We are not supposed to remove security checkpoints. They help in checking the activities of armed robbers. I would suggest that some operatives be deployed to the Ugwu-Onyeama Road and the Iva-Valley axis leading to 9th Mile Corner in Enugu. Those areas are dangerous spots in terms of armed robbery operations. Let those posted to the various checkpoints be serious in checking vehicles and their occupants rather than extorting money from people.
I think we still need more checkpoints. It should be noted that the security checkpoints in the northern part of Nigeria are not as many as they are in the southeast.
Prince-will Ike Ikechukwu, 37, Homeopathic Doctor, Enugu
I strongly support the clamour for the removal of security checkpoints on Nigerian roads, particularly in the southeast zone of Nigeria. I don’t see what they are doing to checkmate armed robbery operations. The security checkpoints and their operators are becoming too rampant in the southeast zone. I would like them to be removed without further delay. Let’s start from there and see what happens thereafter. The operatives are busy extorting money from commercial motorists. After all, it’s God that guards. The police men are human beings like us.
Emeka Amaefula, 54, Journalist, Port Harcourt
I am of the opinion that the checkpoints should not be removed in the South-south and Southeast because they have gone a long way in checking crime in the area. There was rising crime in these areas in the past. Some years ago there was this notorious criminal called Osisikanku who terrorized the entire Southeast until he was killed. His arrest and eventual death was aided through the checkpoints. Checkpoint should remain. What should be done is that the officers that man these checkpoints should be trained in a way that will make them professional in the discharge of their duties. They should stop the harassment of innocent motorists as well as extortion of money.
Diepriye Batubo, 27, Civil Servant, Port Harcourt
I don’t want checkpoints to be removed. They are very important for the security of lives and property. Terrible discoveries have been made at checkpoints located in many parts of South-south and southeast. Its removal will not help matters. Soldiers and other security agents manning the checkpoints should be cautioned and enlightened on how to go about what they do. They should stop extortion and harassment of innocent motorists. They should also stop causing unnecessary traffic gridlocks.
Adaeze Oforji, 18, Student, Abia State University
I don’t think it is wise to remove checkpoints. It will increase crime in the region. It helps in checking the activities of criminals in the South-south and Southeast. That some police officers and other law enforcement agents are involved in one extortion case or other is not enough reason to remove the checkpoints. Those manning the checkpoints should be cautioned against these activities.
Gerald Chidiebere Onyejiuwa, Doctor, Nsukka
Security checkpoints should not be removed but reduced. Let there be more security checkpoints on the highways and in rural areas. Extortion and some cases of harassment of civilians by police men is not enough reason to scrap checkpoints from our roads and streets. However you look at it, the security men are securing lives and property, and their presence means a lot.
Assuming a passenger is robbed by armed robbers or in some cases gets killed, the loss can hardly be equal to the little money police men might have collected. However, since there are complaints about extortion and intimidation, the police authority should reduce the number of checkpoints.
Ngozi Ugwu, 30, Businesswoman, Enugu
I don’t want the security check-points removed from our roads. In fact, we need more if that is what will make the law abiding citizens feel safe and secured.
It’s true that people are complaining about security men at checkpoints extorting money from civilians but that is not enough reason to call for their total removal from our roads. Police authorities should device a measure to check the activities of such operatives and punish them accordingly to serve as deterrent to others. Aside this, I believe they are useful because they arrest criminals at checkpoints.
