By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Anambra State Government has criticised the activities of some soldiers over their extortion of innocent citizens and causing of unnecessary gridlock to motorists at checkpoints along some roads in the state, thereby thwarting government’s effort to ensure free flow of traffic.
The State Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, gave the criticisms in a statement issued to newsmen in Awka, the state capital over the week.
According to him, the soldiers who mount at checkpoints, also harass the citizens instead of protecting the people.
The statement reads, “It is a tragedy that the checkpoints manned by military men on literally all the roads across the state have precipitated punitive traffic gridlocks where the mass of Yuletide vacationers are argonously trapped for many hours, an experience which Anambra State Government had worked hard to avert at this period.
“The recent practical experience of the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, in courageously confronting the soldiers on the Amansea end of the state calls for grave concern.
“It seems these military men manning the checkpoints have turned these places into toll points this season, thereby causing traffic jams and thwarting government’s effort to ensure free flow of traffic.
“The case of Amansea is particularly instructive because the Deputy Governor had warned the military personnel earlier in the day to allow traffic move smoothly, but immediately he left, they resumed the unwholesome “checkings”.
“The sad aspect is that the military men are obviously not apprehending the hoodlums harassing the state. What then is the use of blocking roads at this time when there is no particular intel to track an impending crime or fleeing criminals?
“This leaves one with one conclusion: that the long traffic jams are orchestrated just to extort money from drivers and motorists.
“This pernicious attitude to traffic management by our military is condemnable. The security of the state must not be compromised on the altar of making filthy lucre by men who ought to protect the people.
“Military subordination to civil authority should be emphasized forthwith and henceforth.”
