Igbo Women Urge FG to Remove Military from South-east Roads, Citing Harassment Concerns

The National Igbo Women Assembly has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the military presence at checkpoints in the South East region. They claim that the soldiers’ actions are focused on monetary extortion and commuter harassment, rather than their intended purpose. The group has requested the withdrawal of soldiers from these checkpoints.

According to the women, soldiers are constituting more problems than solving them by extorting money from motorists and harassing commuters against what they were assigned to do.

The Igbo women under the aegis of National Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, noted with regret the humiliation of commuters on the roads by forcing them to disembark from their vehicles and cross check points on foot before rejoining their vehicles.

They lamented why such humiliating practice should be seen only in the South East, and wondered what offence Igbo committed to be subjected to such humiliation.

Speaking to journalists in Enugu the President of IWA, Lolo Nneka Chimezie wondered why the soldiers sent to Igbo land to tackle insecurity have literally abandoned their mission to engage in extortion and humiliation of the people of the region.

The women said it was always embarrassing to note that criminals would attack and abduct people at points not far from some of these checkpoints yet they would not be apprehended.

“Since they have failed to secure the people they were asked to protect, we demand that the Federal Government withdraws them immediately, police should be encouraged to protect the people as they are more approachable than soldiers who are always harsh on the people, irrespective of age”.

On the ongoing the anti-Igbo campaign in Lagos, IWA wondered why the people behind the ethnic campaign and hate speech have not been arrested by the Federal Government.

The women said the way the Federal Government is handling the matter suggests that there are different laws for different people in Nigeria.

According to the women, a prominent Igbo leader in Logos, Eze Nwajagu is currently detained and being tried because out of frustration on how Igbo lives and properties were being threatened, said if Igbo could not be protected he would call IPoB to protect them.

They said some people have committed worse breaches even against Igbo in Lagos, yet they have not been arrested for trial.

The National Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) has expressed concern over the perceived disparity in treatment of individuals who have threatened or attacked Igbo people in Lagos, compared to those who are being detained. They question the reasons behind the perceived mistreatment of Igbo people in Nigeria. The group is calling on President Bola Tinubu to either release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and Chief Nwajagu or take action against those who have made threats against Igbo people in Lagos, in order to ensure equal application of the law for all Nigerians.