Against extortion and harassment of Imo residents, Youths under the umbrella of National Youths Alliance have issued warning to Nigeria police Force and other collaborating joint security agencies in the Eastern Heartland (Imo State).
In a statement signed by the State chairman, Chinonso Uba and made available to impartial observers on Sunday, The youth body revealed some checkpoints where security Operatives extort and harass residents unlawfully.
Their statement read in full;
“The National Youth Alliance NYA Imo State chapter has noted with deep seated concerns the visble frustration of Imo residents especially Imo Youths who have been subjected to continuous extortion,intimidation and harassment by men of the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Task Force (JTF) comprising of the Military, police and civil defence.
For the records, these acts of unprofessionalism became worse before the 2023 general elections. At this point and now,it was so brazenly done by policemen and the joint task Force who uses Keke bus and hilux respectively to Extort Imo residents especially the Youths.
Flash points of police Extortion in Imo include:
AA Rano
Shop rite Egbu Rd,
Roadsafety Egbu,
Ubommiri-Ohii Junction,
Amakohia Flyover,
Spibat Road Amakohia,
Before St Tansi Catholic Church Orji,
Orji Flyover,
Obilubi-Akabo Rd,
Atta Ikeduru-Okigwe Rd,
Fire Service Owerri,
Akachi-Aba Rd,
Agbala- Aba Rd,
Airport Junction,
Mbaise-Umuahia Rd,
Civic Center-Concord Rd,
Akwakuma junction,
Obinze-Ph Rd
Some police officers on Keke Bus randomly pick their victims around the following areas;
Douglas Rd,
Wetheral Rd,
Orji axis,
Irete,
Orogwe,
Ogbaku,
Warehouse junction,
Ikenegbu,
Worldbank/ Umuguma areas,
Umudagu Mbieri Rd,
Naze area,
Uratta area,
Etc
These random police officers on unmarked Keke Bus on picking their victims, would drive them round Owerri city, in the process negotiating with them till the Extortion is completed.
Records at our disposal shows that most students of the higher institutions in the state have lost their school fees to these armed security robbers who either threatene them with outright killing or falsely accusing them of being IPOB/ ESN members.
Youngmen riding clean cars and dressing well are cornered,threatened and extorted.
From available records, security agents in Imo have alledgedly extorted over fifty million naira between 2022 / 2024 from Imo residents.
This situation has caused Imo state to lose critical investment and business opportunities because investors and business men are scared of coming to Imo state for business.
On several occasions, the efforts of the Commissioner of Police Imo state command CP Aboki Danjuma has not yielded much fruits despite his continuous workshop and retraining of his men to respect the human rights of Imo residents.
On many occasions too,the Inspector General of Police have warned police officers to refrain from searching peoples phones and laptops nationwide, but as other police officers obey the order, some of them in Imo state have grown deaf ears to this. Searching of people’s phones by security agents have become endemic in Imo.
Unfortunately, the frustration is getting out of hand and Imo Youths are no longer going to keep quiet.
To this end therefore, NYA Imo State chapter is giving the Imo police and the joint task Force seven days to stop,halt,cease the Extortion of Imo residents especially the Youths.
If after seven days, the National Youth Alliance NYA would declare a 3day Protest throughout the state to draw the attention of the international community and federal government to the continued Extortion of Imo residents.
Committee is being set up to laise with prominent Human rights Activists and Civil Societies across the state and Nigeria.
This committee would reach out to Barr Femi Falana (SAN) Adeyanju, Sowore, Aisha Yesufu and many others to create the desired awareness over the Extortion gallore going on in Imo state.
As a Youth Movement, NYA won’t sit back and watch the reckless and unprofessional robbery of Imo residents by those constitutionally empowered to protect them.
NYA would on the expiration of the ultimatum, by Saturday 19th October 2024, hold a World Press Conference with other Civil and Liberty Organisations including Protect The Weak International Foundation PROWIF, Center for Defence of Human rights, Stand Up Nigeria and others.
This conference would outline the procedure for the 3day Protest throughout the state!
Finally, Imo residents are hereby requested to send further evidences of such Extortion from today till 19th of October 2024 to the WhatsApp number 08133050089.
Enough Is Enough!”
