Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — January 3, 2026 — The Human Rights Civil Society Watch of Nigeria has issued a forceful public condemnation of the continued operation and abuses at military and security roadblocks across the South‑East region, describing the checkpoints as a daily burden on ordinary citizens and a violation of fundamental freedoms. The statement, issued by the organisation’s National Spokesperson, Leftist Precious Omon, accuses elements of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies of defying a direct order from the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, to remove non‑essential roadblocks nationwide.
The press release highlights that while some progress has been made in parts of the country in complying with the minister’s directive, the situation in the South‑East remains largely unchanged, with numerous roadblocks still functioning and impacting life, commerce, and movement for millions of residents. The watchdog group emphasised that the disregard for the ministerial order raises serious concerns about discipline and command control within sections of the security forces stationed in that geopolitical zone.
According to civil society sources, the widespread deployment of checkpoints on South‑East highways and rural routes has long been a source of public grievance, with similar complaints documented in earlier years when travellers and local residents described the experience as humiliating and degrading. A 2023 report by regional media described security checkpoints mounted by soldiers and police almost every few kilometres on major roads, where commuters were sometimes forced to disembark from vehicles, undergo prolonged searches, and endure harassment — actions critics likened to inhumane treatment and a breach of constitutional rights to free movement.
The Human Rights Civil Society Watch of Nigeria’s statement underscores the profound socio‑economic impact that these checkpoints have on ordinary lives. Motorists and passengers are reportedly subjected to repeated stops, arbitrary searches and intimidation, with transport costs rising as drivers seek to compensate for delays. For traders who depend on road transport to move goods between towns and states within the South‑East and to neighbouring regions, the delays have translated into higher operational costs, shrinking profit margins and reduced market competitiveness.
Students and workers who commute daily bear the psychological and financial toll of these disruptions. Commuters have described travel times that should take minutes extending to hours, disrupting attendance at schools, workplaces and critical appointments like medical check‑ups. Families visiting relatives or attending important social functions also find their plans thrown into disarray, contributing to widespread frustration across communities.
Rights advocates argue that while security challenges in the region, including banditry, kidnapping and occasional communal unrest, have led to increased deployments of armed forces, the strategy of maintaining static roadblocks is outdated and counterproductive. Omon and her organisation called on the defence minister to enforce his directive with urgency, implement sanctions against units that refuse to comply and transition toward more effective, intelligence‑led security strategies that respect human rights and community cohesion.
The watchdog group’s criticisms echo broader debates within human rights and security discourse in Nigeria. International human rights frameworks, as well as domestic protections enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, guarantee freedom of movement and protection from unlawful interference. Analysts and activists argue that excessive use of static checkpoints does little to deter sophisticated criminal networks and instead places undue hardship on law‑abiding citizens.
Modern security doctrine internationally has shifted toward targeted surveillance, community intelligence sharing and data‑driven policing that seeks to minimise disruption to civilian life while identifying and neutralising genuine threats. Hardline checkpoint systems, by contrast, are widely viewed as blunt instruments that strain community relations and erode public trust in law enforcement.
Omon’s statement stressed that roadblocks as currently implemented “are neither a humane nor an effective security strategy,” and that in many parts of the world, such static checkpoints have been replaced by technology‑assisted monitoring, refined intelligence mechanisms and constructive community engagement. The watchdog affirmed that criminal elements are rarely deterred by static roadblocks, which often serve instead as venues for corruption, extortion and abuse of authority.
Complaints about military and police checkpoints in the South‑East are not new. Historically, motorists, traders and regional leaders have expressed opposition to the prevalence of armed checkpoints on key routes connecting major cities like Enugu, Awka, Onitsha and Aba. Critics have described situations where passengers were made to disembark under extreme weather conditions or were delayed for prolonged periods without clear justification. Such accounts have drawn condemnation from rights groups and community leaders alike, who view them as degrading and unconstitutional impositions on citizens.
Civil society organisations, including rights advocates and local NGOs, have previously documented extensive networks of roadblocks deployed by security forces in the South‑East and South‑South regions, tracing their proliferation to historical strategies aimed at controlling insurgency and criminal activities but critiquing their continuation long after conditions necessitating such measures have evolved.
Human rights monitors argue that the sustained presence of these checkpoints has also undermined community cooperation with law enforcement agencies. Residents, feeling targeted and harassed, are less likely to share crucial intelligence that could help identify real threats, inadvertently weakening collective security efforts.
In its January 3 statement, the Human Rights Civil Society Watch of Nigeria called on General Musa to uphold the ministerial directive with firm enforcement, including clear sanctions for units that continue to operate roadblocks in defiance of national orders. The organisation also urged a shift toward rights‑respecting security measures that balance the imperative of public safety with the constitutional rights and dignity of citizens.
“The people of the South‑East deserve relief, dignity, and equal treatment,” the group said, urging immediate government action to restore confidence in security operations and align them with democratic norms and rule of law principles.
The watchdog further pledged to continue documenting violations, supporting victims and engaging both national and international human rights mechanisms to ensure accountability. It emphasised that true security cannot be achieved at the cost of humanity, dignity, and freedom — principles embedded in Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights commitments.
The statement reflects broader tensions in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to manage internal security across diverse regions, where citizens and civil society groups continue to challenge heavy‑handed tactics in favour of approaches that safeguard lives, rights and livelihoods while effectively countering criminal threats.
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