Bloodshed & Corruption: 180 Killed, N21B Taken in S-East
A civil rights organization, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety, has accused security forces and non-state actors of causing the deaths of at least 180 individuals in the South-East during December 2024 and January 2025.
It also alleged that more than N21 billion was extorted from the South-East populace within that timeframe.
In a statement released by the group on Thursday, it asserted that the incidents of killings, kidnappings, and disappearances were aimed at violently seizing and hoarding billions of Naira during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
The statement shared with Naijaeyes was signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chair of the Board, Intersociety; Chinwe Umeche, Esquire, Head of Democracy and Good Governance Program; Chidinma Udegbunam, Esquire, Head of Campaign and Publicity; and Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esquire, Head of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.
Intersociety contended that “police and military forces unlawfully seized and clandestinely collected N21.8 billion (N15 billion by police and N6.8 billion by military) from extortions at South-East roadblocks and barracks during December 2024 and January 2025.”
Providing more details, it claimed that “the Uga Junction and Atani Road Naval checkpoints are the most ‘profitable’ in the South-East; N600 million (N1 million daily) was seized under duress from at least ten sources of extortion in two months (December 2024-January 2025).”
“Kidnappers extorted N600 million from vulnerable abductees over a period of 20 days: from December 28 to January 18, totaling N1.2 billion in two months (December 2024-January 2025).”
“During this two-month timeframe, 180 defenseless citizens were killed: 140 by armed non-state actors and 40 others unlawfully killed by military, police, and vigilante groups.”
“In the same period, 200 defenseless individuals from the Southeast were abducted: 160 by armed non-state actors and 40 others unlawfully detained and facing likely permanent disappearance at the hands of military, police, and vigilante groups.”
It further claimed that this sum represented what it termed “criminal billions taken from direct and indirect extortion through roadblocks and barracks, totaling over twenty sources, targeted at civilians with legitimate livelihoods while they were either preparing for or returning from the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year celebrations.”
According to Intersociety, “these findings stemmed from thorough research and investigation, with details outlined in their special report dated December 22, 2024, titled ‘Ocean Of Innocent Blood Flowing In Eastern Nigeria’.”
“There are currently at least 300 military roadblocks and 500 patrol teams or indirect roadblocks set up on roads in the South-East, with 98% of these engaged in extortion via direct and indirect means using publicly acquired assault rifles, ammunition, and patrol vehicles.”
“These extortions and related corrupt actions by military personnel violate Section 108 of the Armed Forces Act of 2004, which prescribes a penalty of fourteen years imprisonment for any military member found guilty of extortion.”
“The report also indicated that an average of N100,000 is illegally taken daily by each of the military roadblocks, leading to N80 million daily from 800 military roadblocks and patrol teams in the South-East, summing up to N2.4 billion per month and N4.8 billion over the two months of December 2024 and January 2025.”
“An additional N2 billion has been estimated to originate from direct and indirect extortion by barracks and others, totaling N6.8 billion taken at gunpoint and illicitly collected from motorists and other individuals who interacted with military personnel during the past two months of December 2024 and January 2025.”
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