The Police High Command has stated that its officers mounting roadblocks across states is not meant to intimidate the citizens but to protect their safety.
While indicating that state governors are informed about the roadblocks established on significant highways and certain intercity roads within their jurisdictions, the force noted that Nigerians residing abroad are returning to the country to celebrate Christmas in their communities, a trend attributed to the enhanced security situation across various regions.
Henzodaily reports that the force’s spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made these remarks while addressing inquiries from journalists during a joint press conference involving all security agency representatives at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja.
This briefing, organized by the Strategic Communications Interagency Policy Committee (SCIPC) of the ONSA, was led by the Director of Legal Services, Zakari Mijinyawa, and included representatives from the military, fire service, and the Federal Road Safety Corps, among others.
In response to concerns regarding kidnapping incidents on major highways, particularly in the South East, Adejobi assured that the force has been deployed to these key routes to prevent such occurrences.
“Let me say that we have done strategic deployment, and our deployment across the country is not to intimidate anybody, it is for us to make sure that all our routes, major highways and communities are safe.
“Let me clarify that we don’t have roadblocks in Nigeria, we have stop-and-search points, nipping points, and others. Where you see roadblocks, that is zigzag movement – be it log of wood, drums and everything, must have been at the request of the governor of that state.
“No command will form any roadblocks without the consent of the governor of that state. There are some states where the governors have actually requested or sought permission of the IGP to have such roadblocks,” he said.
The spokesperson for the force stated that senior police officials have never dispatched any officer on patrol to generate revenue, urging Nigerians to report any such officers through widely publicized channels if they are observed engaging in misconduct.
He further noted that there are currently stop-and-search checkpoints established throughout the country, and these will remain in place until a more effective system is implemented.
This future system aims to eliminate the need for officers to stop vehicles and inspect documentation, relying instead on authorized patrols and surveillance cameras to monitor the highways.
“But now, for our own good, and for the good of our people, plying all these routes. But where we have issues with the men, at these various points, we have rolled out our helplines. We have rolled out our complaint response platforms and numbers. Let us make use of them.
“I’ve not seen any senior man from any agency, particularly in the police, that we muster his name in the name of money. Apart from Customs that is for revenue, I’ve not seen any that will say go and raise N10 million for me as you’re going to your point of duty, I’ve not seen it,” Adejobi stated.