- Warns against use of civilians to collect tolls
From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called for immediate dismantling of security checkpoints along major roads within South East even as it condemn the alleged use of civilians and some vigilante members by Nigerian security outfits for toll collection.
IPOB Spokesman Emma Powerful decried what he called indiscriminate military and Police checkpoints mounted to harass and extort money from people of South East zone.
“The uncountable checkpoints in South East are not only used for extortion of money at gunpoint but are also used for kidnapping, organ harvesting, and forceful disappearance of many Igbo youths. The new style of using vigilante security groups and civilians by the Nigeria Security Forces at these illegal checkpoints to extort money from people is not acceptable,” Powerful stated.
“Therefore, IPOB is using this medium to warn civilians and vigilante members being used for extortion at these illegal checkpoints in Biafraland to stay off and stop immediately. They should know that if it were to be a good job opportunity or official recruitment into the Nigeria Security Forces, they would not be considered worthy by Nigerian government.
The statement further said: “For any Igbo son or daughter to allow himself or herself to be used as a tool of suppression and extortion against his and her own people by the murderous Nigeria Security Forces means that the person is not normal.
“It is a calculated policy to dehumanise, intimidate, kill, and destroy lives and property in Igbo land Any Igbo son or daughter that is encouraging this security and economic strangulation using numerous checkpoints is devilish and wicked.The Northern region where bandits and terrorists are running amok need more security checkpoints than the peaceful Southeast. The insecurity in the Southeast is sponsored by the federal government of Nigeria just to blackmail Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB, and ESN,” he said.