Policemen Defy IG’s Order, Mount More Checkpoints Nationwide
In flagrant disregard of the order of the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar that checkpoints be dismantled nationwide, policemen and officers still mount road blocks where they extort money from motorists.
Areas in Lagos where there are still checkpoints include Ajasa road, Abule-Egba, Ekoro road in Agbado-Oke-Odo Council Area and on the Lagos Abeokuta expressway.
Similarly, police still mount checkpoints at Adelabu Street, Surulere, near bread seller, close to the former NEPA (new PHCN) office at Ijeshatedo, Sanya bus stop close to the Oshodi-Apapa expressway and Cele-Ijesha road, opposite Mr. Bigg’s.
Although there are still checkpoints in Ibadan, Oyo State Police Command today banned all forms of checkpoints by its men saying that any policeman caught on the road for whatever reason is there at his or her own peril.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Moses Onireti, stated that it has become a crime for anyone to mount checkpoints under any guise.
Okanlawon said the dismantling of checkpoints is a directive from the Acting Inspector-General of Police, stressing that the police boss handed down this instruction during a meeting with all the police public relations officers.
Okanlawon said any policeman who contravenes this instruction would be summarily dismissed and possibly face prosecution in the court of law.
The areas where checkpoints were mounted are General Gas and Ojurin areas of Ibadan.
They were busy collecting money from commuter vehicle drivers.
At the two points, five policemen were found in each point and their vehicles were parked by the side of the road.
Similarly, in Osogbo, a reader said he spent about 45 minutes on a road instead of about five minutes because of checkpoints.
In like manner, Osogbo-Gbongan road was said to be full of checkpoints.
According to Benjamin Anyigor, cops used disused tyres to mount checkpoints at Asaba toll gate; Olufemi Akindele said the situation was the same on his journey from Lagos to Ilesha, Osun State.
A reader, Ifeoma Okorafor said there is presently a roadblock per kilometre on Benin-Ore road.
Respondents also wrote that police have continued to mount checkpoints on Kano, Taludu-BUK road, Port Harcourt road, Onitsha, Ibadan-Akure-Ifon-Owo road, Gwarimpa-Abuja and many parts of Ondo State.
There are several checkpoints on Enugu-Benue road, around Secretariat Junction, Jos, Plateau State, Abuja-Kaduna highway, Warri-Sapele road, Port Harcourt and Suleja-Minna, according to reports by the online readers.
Past inspectors-general of police who gave orders that checkpoints be dismantled albeit in vain are: Tafa Balogun, Ogbonna Onovo and Mike Okiro.
Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer and activist, Femi Falana has commended the directive by IGP Abubakar that all police formations should desist from the practice of detaining suspects beyond 24 hours.
Falana also urged the IGP to stop the illegal parade of suspects, saying it is prejudicial to the rights of criminal suspects.
He also commended the IGP’s decision to dismantle checkpoints but he called for a regular patrol and monitoring by anti-robbery teams in order to guarantee the safety of motorists and security of goods on the nation’s highways.
Falana advised Nigerians to take advantage of the new police boss’ commitment to reorganise the police to stand up and defend their personal liberty which had hitherto been grossly abused with impunity.
He urged Nigerians to report complaints of infringements of their rights to the appropriate authorities.
In flagrant disregard of the order of the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar that checkpoints be dismantled nationwide, policemen and officers still mount road blocks where they extort money from motorists.
Areas in Lagos where there are still checkpoints include Ajasa road, Abule-Egba, Ekoro road in Agbado-Oke-Odo Council Area and on the Lagos Abeokuta expressway.
Similarly, police still mount checkpoints at Adelabu Street, Surulere, near bread seller, close to the former NEPA (new PHCN) office at Ijeshatedo, Sanya bus stop close to the Oshodi-Apapa expressway and Cele-Ijesha road, opposite Mr. Bigg’s.
Although there are still checkpoints in Ibadan, Oyo State Police Command today banned all forms of checkpoints by its men saying that any policeman caught on the road for whatever reason is there at his or her own peril.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Moses Onireti, stated that it has become a crime for anyone to mount checkpoints under any guise.
Okanlawon said the dismantling of checkpoints is a directive from the Acting Inspector-General of Police, stressing that the police boss handed down this instruction during a meeting with all the police public relations officers.
Okanlawon said any policeman who contravenes this instruction would be summarily dismissed and possibly face prosecution in the court of law.
The areas where checkpoints were mounted are General Gas and Ojurin areas of Ibadan.
They were busy collecting money from commuter vehicle drivers.
At the two points, five policemen were found in each point and their vehicles were parked by the side of the road.
Similarly, in Osogbo, a reader said he spent about 45 minutes on a road instead of about five minutes because of checkpoints.
In like manner, Osogbo-Gbongan road was said to be full of checkpoints.
According to Benjamin Anyigor, cops used disused tyres to mount checkpoints at Asaba toll gate; Olufemi Akindele said the situation was the same on his journey from Lagos to Ilesha, Osun State.
A reader, Ifeoma Okorafor said there is presently a roadblock per kilometre on Benin-Ore road.
Respondents also wrote that police have continued to mount checkpoints on Kano, Taludu-BUK road, Port Harcourt road, Onitsha, Ibadan-Akure-Ifon-Owo road, Gwarimpa-Abuja and many parts of Ondo State.
There are several checkpoints on Enugu-Benue road, around Secretariat Junction, Jos, Plateau State, Abuja-Kaduna highway, Warri-Sapele road, Port Harcourt and Suleja-Minna, according to reports by the online readers.
Past inspectors-general of police who gave orders that checkpoints be dismantled albeit in vain are: Tafa Balogun, Ogbonna Onovo and Mike Okiro.
Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer and activist, Femi Falana has commended the directive by IGP Abubakar that all police formations should desist from the practice of detaining suspects beyond 24 hours.
Falana also urged the IGP to stop the illegal parade of suspects, saying it is prejudicial to the rights of criminal suspects.
He also commended the IGP’s decision to dismantle checkpoints but he called for a regular patrol and monitoring by anti-robbery teams in order to guarantee the safety of motorists and security of goods on the nation’s highways.
Falana advised Nigerians to take advantage of the new police boss’ commitment to reorganise the police to stand up and defend their personal liberty which had hitherto been grossly abused with impunity.
He urged Nigerians to report complaints of infringements of their rights to the appropriate authorities.
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