The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised a critical alarm, informing the newly appointed Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, that soldiers in the South East region have blatantly disobeyed his directive to withdraw from mounting roadblocks.
Direct Disobedience to Ministerial Order
In a statement released by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA expressed regret that while the enthusiastic minister may have been led to believe his order was followed, the reality on the ground is starkly different. The group highlighted the fundamental military principle of obeying commanders' orders, noting it is unfortunate that this was not observed.
HURIWA's observation during the recent Yuletide season revealed that it was business as usual across the South East. Hundreds of roadblocks, vexatiously set up by armed soldiers and police officers, remained operational. These personnel, bearing arms and ammunition, were reportedly busy extorting money from drivers passing through the barricades. The persistent checkpoints also constituted severe traffic difficulties for road users, contradicting the minister's stated policy.
The Defence Minister's Security Strategy
HURIWA recalled that the new defence minister, a retired general, had identified the withdrawal of soldiers from routine checkpoint duties as one of his most important strategies for combating insecurity and insurgency. General Christopher Gwabin Musa stated this during his screening at the Senate, explaining that police officers and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would take over these duties from the military.
This strategic shift aimed to refocus the armed forces purely on counterinsurgency and other critical internal security operations, allowing more appropriately trained civil security agencies to handle routine road checks. For decades, soldiers have manned checkpoints across Nigerian roads, especially in volatile areas, to support civil authorities.
Implications and Call for Action
The reported disobedience in the South East of Nigeria poses a significant challenge to the authority of the new defence minister and the effectiveness of his security blueprint. It raises concerns about chain-of-command issues within the military and the persistent problem of extortion and harassment at checkpoints.
HURIWA's alert serves as a direct call to General Christopher Gwabin Musa to investigate and enforce compliance with his order. The situation underscores the gap between policy pronouncements at the federal level and the reality of implementation on the ground, particularly in regions like the South East. Ensuring that soldiers are redeployed to their core security mandates remains a critical test for the new defence leadership.
