Public extortion: HEDA asks volunteers to monitor soldiers in North East

Following the accusation of uniform men extorting commuters on highways in the Northeast, an anti-corruption group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), has directed its volunteers to monitor activities of soldiers on the highways to see if extortion remains a pattern.

The anti-corruption group also promised to report cases of further extortions to appropriate authorities, should any be discovered.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum on his way to Jakana was said to have observed a traffic gridlock occasioned by soldiers and policemen attached to Operation Lafiya Dole extorting cash from motorists.

In a statement, HEDA’s Chair, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju commended Zulum for speaking out for the locals in the Northeast, where insurgents have recently relaunched their violent campaigns, saying his condemnation of the act was a show of moral high ground.

The rights group also commended the Nigerian Army, through the operation’s Media Coordinator, Col. Aminu Ilyasu for saying the Army would probe the allegation.

HEDA said its own findings from volunteers in the North East has confirmed the governor’s position, adding that the Nigerian Army owes Nigerians the debt of making public its findings.