The coalition of civil societies under the aegis of Campaign for Democracy, South-East Zone and the Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation, HURIDE – have raised concerns over alleged extortions, stealing, harassment, killings and illegal arrests carried out at checkpoints by naval ratings along Atani Road in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

This is just as the groups lamented that the naval officers, who are supposed to provide security have now become a threat to security as they continue to carry out “illicit” activities unabated at the several roadblocks they have mounted along the ever-busy road.

The Executive Director, HURIDE, Mr Dede Uzor, stated these on Wednesday when he spoke on behalf of the groups in Onitsha, Anambra State, during an interactive session with a cross-section of victims and family members, adding that the naval ratings are from the Eastern Naval Command, Iyiowa Odeekpe near Onitsha.

Uzor alleged that many innocent people who have fallen victims either had their accounts hacked by the naval officers or those who are not lucky are killed without any traces, saying that many residents of the area have been declared missing since the development.

During the session, some victims also narrated their experiences, while calling on both the federal and state governments for intervention. They called on President Bola Tinubu and the chief of naval staff to overhaul the security apparatuses in the South East.

Uzor said, “The naval ratings are supposed to be in the sea, but we are surprised to see them mounting roadblocks here and there along the Atani Road and Onitsha environs. They now use the roadblocks to carry out extortion, harassment, and even secret killings of innocent victims. It is quite disheartening that people are being tormented by those who are meant to protect them.

“Innocent people are being extorted on a daily basis, while some have their accounts hacked, those that are not lucky are being killed without traces. A few days ago, a young man was saved by divine intervention, he would have been killed and labelled a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra or a ‘yahoo-yahoo’ by these naval ratings. (The PUNCH)

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