WHEN I read in the Nigerian Tribune of Tuesday, 23 February, 2010 that 12 policemen were arrested for mounting illegal roadblock, extorting and harassing motorists and commuters on the nation’s highways, I wondered whether there is any difference between illegal and legal roadblocks. Which one is legal and which is illegal? What is the difference between the two? How can we differentiate the legal one from the illegal?

I also read in the same story that the arrest was made in line with the anti-corruption programme of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, which made one also to wonder whether it is true that our IG has any concern for the trend of police corruption in the country.

The opinion of an average  Nigerian is that the IG is aware of the happenings on our highways and that he is part and a beneficiary of it. This could be the reason he feels unperturbed whenever his boys perpetrate unlawful acts on the road.

There is no doubt that the IG plies Nigerian highways and, I believe that some other senior police officers do. I also believe that one way or the other, they should have run into mounted roadblock on their way. The question is, what was their reaction?

There are several roadblocks on our highways ranging from legal or illegal, and what I had noticed was that they are used for the same thing; extorting and harassment of road users.

If it is true that the Inspector-General of Police has any policy against corruption within the police, let him set up an anti-corruption unit and give it definite instruction to rid our highways of corrupt officers without fear or favour.

There are more than six roadblocks between Ibadan and Ile-Ife everyday. One comes across no fewer than five roadblocks between Lagos and Ibadan while there are innumerable roadblocks when travelling to Benin from Lagos.

The surprising aspect of it is that the mode of operation of the officers seems like that of  highway robbers, as they often barricade the roads with heavy log of woods, tyres and heavy stones. They also brandish firearms as if they are after an enemy.

Inubile writes from Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

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written by agbo leticia, March 18, 2010

The IG is not serious neither is he sincere!
let him continue playing corruption in that office
one day,as he fails to do the right thing nature will catch up wt him like Taffa Balogun

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