Southeast Travelers: Checkpoints Treat Us Like Slaves.

Igbo women, under the Igbo Women Assembly (IWA), have called for the immediate removal of soldiers from Southeast roads, citing rampant extortion and dehumanization at military checkpoints. They condemned the treatment of passengers, particularly youths, who are often forced to disembark and walk across checkpoints while criminals pass undetected. The IWA emphasized that the soldiers at these checkpoints appear more focused on collecting bribes than providing security, leading to harassment and humiliation of travelers.

The Igbo National Council (INC) also urged the Army to establish a taskforce to monitor the conduct of military personnel at these checkpoints. The INC and other rights groups described the extortion as “daylight robbery” and accused security forces of treating the region as if it were a conquered territory. Despite public outcry, the abuse continues, and they demand immediate action to stop these oppressive practices.

The Nigerian Army responded by pledging to punish any soldier found guilty of extortion and called on media and civil society to hold security forces accountable.