An Igbo group, Oganihu, has expressed grave concern over the continuing deterioration of security, accountability and respect for citizens’ rights across the South-East zone.

It particularly decried the proliferation and operation of security checkpoints, alleged systematic extortion of motorists and commercial transporters, prolonged detention of citizens in security facilities, as well as failure to implement important recommendations arising from official inquiries into violence and insecurity in the region.

A statement jointly signed by its Co-Chair, Prof. Chijioke Uwasomba, Secretary, Uzodimma Nwogbe, and Advocacy Coordinator, Okechukwu Nwanguma, which acknowledged the legitimate responsibility of security agencies to protect lives, prevent crime and maintain public safety, stressed, however, that “security necessity cannot justify extortion, harassment, degrading treatment or the conversion of highways into revenue-collection corridors.”

The statement, which noted that checkpoint extortion in the South-East was neither new nor confined to one organisation, said that motorists, farmers, traders, transporters, civil society organisations and the media have repeatedly raised similar concerns.

The statement highlighted that in July 2026, for example, commuters complained publicly about police extortion and insecurity on South-East roads. Earlier reports documented complaints by farmers and food vendors that payments demanded at multiple checkpoints were increasing transportation costs and ultimately contributing to higher food prices. In April 2026, the Enugu State Police Command announced an investigation following allegations of extortion at checkpoints around Nsukka.

The group said: “The House of Representatives had also expressed concern in October 2025 about unidentified and improperly dressed security personnel operating checkpoints in the Southeast and South-South.”

Oganihu therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the heads of the Armed Forces and other security agencies operating in the region to undertake an immediate audit of checkpoints across the five states, identifying their locations, operational necessity, authorisation and personnel responsible for them.