NBA Yobe cries out over extortion at check points

By Mohammed Abubakar,
Damaturu

Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Yobe State chapter, has expressed dismay over the extortion of money from motorists at check points along Potiskum – Maiduguri road by law enforcement agents.

Chairman of the NBA Yobe State chapter, Bashir Mohammed Salihu, who spoke in his office, wants the trend changed to boost business in the region.
According to him, the security checks in Yobe State are for extorsion.

His words: “The security points resulted to long qeues on the roads and intentionally created by the security personel who are not checking anything but collecting money from motorists and even go to the extent of giving drivers mostly commercial vehicles change where the drivers do not have the required denomination.

“However, I appreciate the efforts of Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam and the State Attorney – General Ahmed Mustapha Goniri and other cabinet members in securing the lives and properties of the people of the state.”

He appealed to the governor to ensure that the security operatives do their jobs ethically and not prey on the poor people of the state by turning these check points into money collecting centres.

The NBA chairman also commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, on the restoration of peace in Yobe State and indeed North-East sub region.

While appreciating the efforts of the Army to bringing peace in the area, he appealed to the relevant authorities also to check the activities of the security operatives on the roads that are tarnishing the image of the nation’s Army.

“I appreciate the sacrifice being made by the good gallant officers of both Army, Police and other security operatives in the restoration of peace.
The unethical and unprofessional actions would slur the name of our armed forces and security personel. I hope that adequate measures are taken to remedy this ugly situation,” he said.