The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed deep concern over what it described as a widening gap between federal security policy and realities on the ground, following the continued presence of military roadblocks across the South-East.
This is happening despite a directive by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), ordering the withdrawal of soldiers from checkpoints.
National Coordinator of the association, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko in a statement on Friday noted that the persistence of soldiers at roadblocks in the region raises serious questions about command enforcement within the security architecture and casts doubt on the credibility of ongoing security sector reforms. The group warned that such developments weaken counter-insurgency efforts and erode public confidence in the armed forces.
According to HURIWA, observations made during the recent Yuletide season showed that armed soldiers and police officers continued to man numerous checkpoints across the South-East. These checkpoints, the organisation said, were associated with traffic congestion, intimidation of motorists, and alleged extortion, rather than the provision of meaningful security.
The rights group recalled that during his Senate screening, the Defence Minister had outlined a strategy aimed at withdrawing soldiers from civilian checkpoints and redeploying them into operational zones to confront insurgents directly.
Under the proposed framework, checkpoint responsibilities were to be transferred to the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
HURIWA stressed that the continued militarisation of highways in the South-East undermines this strategy, diverts trained combat personnel from critical security operations, and fuels public resentment in communities already affected by prolonged insecurity.
The organisation further warned that when ministerial directives are openly disregarded, it sends a dangerous signal that reforms can be stalled by institutional inertia or internal resistance.
HURIWA therefore called on the Minister of Defence to urgently establish a transparent compliance and monitoring mechanism, enforce discipline within the ranks, and ensure that his directive is fully implemented across all regions of the country.
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Huriwa Flags Security Reform Failure As Soldiers Stay On South-East Roads
