Reps Urge IGP to Dismantle Security Checkpoints Around Aboot High School Ihiala, Other Roads.

 

 

Jonas Ezieke, Abuja

 

 

Following an outcry over the loss of lives caused by Police and military roadblocks at Ihiala axis of Owerri-Onitsha highway, the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba to immediately dismantle the Police checkpoint around the area and other major roads with similar barricades for national security.

 

The lower chamber of the apex legislature also directed its Committee on Police Affairs to investigate the major road  traffic crash on the road on Sunday Nov 28,2021 and monumental and colossal damage to properties of indigenes of the area by the accident.

 

 

The House resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Hon.Chuddy Momah representing Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra State on the  matter on the floor of the House.

 

 

 

He noted that for over two years, military and Police check points in lhiala Onitsha-Owerri express road has been operational to quell insecurity in the area.

 

He noted that road users had been subjected to devastating, degrading and inhumane treatment occasioned by the operation of the Military and Police checkpoint in that area.

 

He said that being a major express road, the negative impact of this military checkpoint has been grave on the community, as well as all the road users.

 

According to him, in this menace, no one is spared, all suffer under the weight of the oppression.

 

He said:”Men, women, children are forced to alight from their cars and raise their hands and pass through the checkpoint. Nursing and pregnant women are also not-spared; in fact, nursing mothers are made to carry their babies up high as they walk across the checkpoint, ‘ sometimes being forced to walk for over 1km.

“Very recently, a pregnant woman on a bike was whipped thoroughly at the military checkpoint. Traditional rulers are also stopped and searched in an embarrassing manner including ransacking of their traditional attire”.

 

The All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA lawmaker said he is cognizant that the military and police checkpoints are located in the middle of the busiest road in the entire local government area, opposite Abbot Boys Secondary School Ihiala and opposite Ihiala Divisional Police headquarters both located within the same axis, an area that ought not be associated with a military checkpoint. As is popular knowledge, military checkpoints are to be stationed at border communities.

 

While urging the House to intervene and ask the security agencies to action to relocate, he added that the military checkpoint ought to be mounted at Amorka community, which is a border between lhiala Local Government and Imo state and not its current location, which is a commercial hub crammed with markets, businesses, schools, etc.

 

 

 

Momah recalled that on Saturday the 30th May 2020, a police make shift road blockage was the cause of a fatal accident at Ihiala which lead to the death of a trailer driver and his conductor as well as over ten bus passengers.

 

 

 

He added that most recently on Saturday November 28,2021 a trailer carrying a container load of goods ran over twenty  public road users who died on the spot.

 

Speaking in support, the Deputy Minority Leaser Hon.Toby Okechukwu said that the House Committee on works should be mandated to investigate why the consessioning of federal roads by the government over the last six months is not working.

 

Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila unanimously adopted the motion with a voice vote

 

 

The House observed a minute silence for the souls of those that have lost their lives in accidents at the police and military check points along the Onitsha- Owerri road in Ihiala Federal Constituency especially the fatal accident of Sunday 28′” November, 2021.

 

The House also mandated the Inspector- General of Police IGP to direct the Commissioner of Police of Anambra State to review the location of the Police checkpoints in Ihiala with a view to forestalling further loss of lives.