Commuters expect highway security agents to keep the road safe and convenient for travel across the country and the police and military checkpoints are meant to provide maximum security on the roads against the backdrop of the prevalence of kidnapping, armed robbery and others.
Regrettably, however, checkpoints in Nigeria are points of delay and extortion.
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Some of the officers do not care to check what one carries. They only delay journeys and financially extort commuters. This is how drugs, weapons, criminals and other illegal goods are allowed to travel easily across the country which defeats the purpose of erecting the checkpoints.
It’s understandable that we need security agents on our roads at times to protect lives not to make travel inconvenient for the people they are expected to protect.
It is sad that when commuters approach security checkpoints on the highways, they are terrified instead of feeling relieved.
One might wonder if these security agents are not under any obligation to protect Nigerians looking at how they treat travellers with unbridled impunity.
The rise in food prices across the country is linked to extortion on the highways practised by our men in uniform.
We can’t get it right until law and order are restored, starting from the erring people in uniform, to serve as a deterrent to others with similar intentions.
Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani lives in Azare, Bauchi State
