Nick Udenta
Travellers along the Okigwe axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway have variously complained about the nefarious activities of alleged personnel suspected to be members of the Nigerian police and the Nigerian army that formed a gang that forcefully extort money from motorists and passengers who travel through the route.
They alleged that these government security operatives mount check-points and conduct themselves like armed robbers, well-armed, their identities hidden and they forcefully collect money from the road users
For motorists travelling from Enugu towards Okigwe, the ordeal reportedly begins shortly after Lokpanta, where a series of checkpoints can quickly turn an ordinary journey into an encounter with fear, intimidation and demands for money.
Reports indicate that what makes the situation particularly disturbing is the difficulty in identifying the security personnel manning some of these checkpoints. On some occasions, their vehicles are unmarked. At other times, motorists say it is difficult to determine whether the men are police officers, soldiers or personnel of another security formation.
Yet, according to accounts from commuters and motorists, the alleged mode of operation remains the same.
A commercial bus is stopped and searched. Two or three young passengers may be singled out and labelled “Yahoo boys” — a term commonly used to describe suspected internet fraudsters. From there, an alleged demand for money follows, with some victims reportedly told to produce N50,000 or more.
The demand, according to the accounts, is often required in cash.
The victim is then left with little choice but to mount an okada to the nearest Point-of-Sale terminal, frequently around the Hausa settlement at Lokpanta, withdraw the demanded cash and return to the checkpoint.
For private motorists, the allegation takes a slightly different form. The vehicle may suddenly be described as stolen or suspicious. Instead of a formal verification process, the alleged encounter reportedly degenerates into negotiation, with the motorist expected to pay an agreed amount before being allowed to continue the journey.
Then the checkpoint goes back to business as usual.
Feedback from the host communities along Lokpanta and Okigwe axis of the expressway said that sometimes dead bodies are seen in the bushes around the checkpoints, which indicate that those who refused to pay money were killed.
It has to be noted that the area very close to the cattle market and the Ama Hausa quarter was where carcass of dead bodies was exhumed when the Governor of Abia state, Dr Alex Otti, in 2023, insisted that the market must seize to be a residential place as well as market and evacuated those living in the place.
It could also be recalled that while high record of kidnapping was taking place in that area few years ago, it was very close to series of checkpoints manned by security operatives. A resident who spoke to newsmen sad that there could be a collaboration between some people in the cattle market and the suspected security operatives.
The most troubling aspect of these allegations is not merely the money reportedly extorted from motorists. It is the mystery surrounding the identity and authority of the men operating the checkpoints.
One victim reportedly became so concerned about the identity of the personnel that he contacted an Army officer for assistance. The officer, in turn, reportedly reached out to police and Army formations in Abia State to establish whether the men were operating under their command.
The response, according to the victim’s account, was that none of the formations contacted recognised the team as theirs.
That raised an even more disturbing question: if they are not from Abia, Imo, Ebonyi or Enugu security formations, where exactly did they come from?
