Campaign for Democracy berates Anambra security operatives over extortion, urges naval chief to remove commander

Comrade Ekene Nnadi, chairman, Anambra State, Campaign for Democracy

By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

The Campaign for Democracy (CD) in Anambra State has called for the immediate transfer of the Commander of Onitsha Naval Post in Odoekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

The chairman of the rights group in the State, Comrade Ekene Nnadi, who made the call at a press briefing in Onitsha, Anambra State flayed security operatives in the State for their extortionist tendencies.

He lamented that the Naval personnel mount permanent road block at Uga Junction and Iyiowa where they extort the people on the pretext that they provide security.

The chairman who was with the Secretary, Unah Zachius, during the briefing said that more pathetic was that as from 8pm the Naval personnel would block express road by Uga Junction where they extort every motorist that passed.

Comrade Ekene said that the Naval personnel have not only commercialised their activities but resorted to intimidation and harassment in a bid to extort the motoristd as much as they could.
In all this, alleged the CD boss, the Commander has not been able to bring his men under control to stop intimidating and extorting innocent citizens in the name of providing security checkpoints.

He however commended the new Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Aderemi Adeoye, for his efforts to reduce crime in the State but pointed out that much were still left to do about the attitude of Police men who were posted to man road blocks in the State.

He decried the high rate of extortion along Onitsha-Owerri Expressway where Police men mount road blocks along the Expressway especially at Obosi Fly Over Bye Pass, Oraifite, and Uli in Ihiala Local Government Area.

He said while providing security for the people, it should not be an excuse to intimidate and extort the citizens, urging the leadership of security outfits in the State to allow free movement of vehicles on the roads this season.

For Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the CD boss urged the Corp Marshal to restore sanity in Onitsha Unity Command, alleging that there was high level of corruption going on there which cause traffic gridlock on the bridge.

He said Road Safety personnel and Policemen apart from touts were part of the gridlock at the Onitsha Bridge, urging the leadership of security apparatus in the State to prevail on their men to reduce traffic on the bridge especially this yuletide.