Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has vented anger on personnel of the Nigeria military and police force for extorting N1,000 bribe from travellers who do not possess national identity cards.
This is as many people have been stranded since Sunday when suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched attacks on communities along Damaturu-Maiduguri Road.
Damaturu is Yobe state capital, and Maiduguri, Borno state capital. The distance between both towns is about 130 kilometres, and there are a number of villages along the axis.
Also, there was an exchange of fire, Monday, between the army and the insurgents in Jakana village in Konduga local government area of Borno State. Jakana is one of the communities on the Damaturu-Maiduguri axis.
Governor’s anger
The governor accused military and police of collecting bribes, Monday, when he visited the Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway where thousands of travellers were stranded because security officials manning the highway locked it down.
The highway is relatively the safest access in and out of Maiduguri, despite repeated Boko Haram attacks recently.
On reaching the Maiduguri entrance checkpoint located near the Borno State University, the governor met hundreds of vehicles queued up on both sides of the lanes.
“This is unacceptable,” Mr Zulum said speaking on top of his voice.
“How can you subject people to this kind of torture all in the name of National ID card? And you are all here collecting N500 and N1,000 from poor travellers who don’t have national ID card.”
When a soldier tried to offer some explanation, the governor said, “No, this is not right. The Federal Government has not created an enabling environment for our people to get their national ID cards and you are here collecting N500 and N1,000 as a fine for not having what the Federal Government has not provided for all.”
The governor said he has received several reports about the alleged extortion at the Maiduguri checkpoint.
Consequently, the governor asked his aides to call the Theatre Commander of the war against Boko Haram, General Olusegun Adeniyi.
On phone, the governor was heard saying, “Theatre Commander, where are you? Right now, I’m at the checkpoint near state university and we have thousands of people stranded and your people are here collecting money from people because they don’t have National ID Card. Why?”
The governor directed the security personnel to open the gates on both sides to allow all travellers to move.
Some of the passengers told journalists that they have been held at the gate for several hours without any explanation.
“I left Damaturu since 9 a.m., and I arrive here at about 11 a.m. But here I am being held till 3 p.m,” said a bus driver who identified himself as Isa Adamu.
A woman travelling from Bauchi to Maiduguri said, “I was asked to give N500 because I don’t have ID card, but I had nothing to give because we passed the night in Damaturu Sunday, because the soldiers said it was late to proceed at about 5 p.m. And I spent all the money I had with me.”
Adeniyi later arrived at the scene and tried to explain that the massive traffic hold up was not caused by soldiers at the checkpoint, but “because of an attack that happened earlier in the day.”
The governor insisted that it was true. “I saw them with my eyes, I spoke with people that were asked to give money.”
The exchange between the governor and the army general deteriorated to as both men argued over other security matters.
The governor left in anger for Jakana, a village 45km from where Boko Haram attacked on Saturday.
“You must know that the government and people of Borno State are behind you and your men, but you must call your soldiers to order, you must check their excesses,” the governor said.
Stranded commuters
A Maiduguri resident who had gone to Damaturu, said Monday that the road had been shut since Sunday morning and that many people have been unable to return to their stations.
“We were supposed to return to Maiduguri but we’ve been stranded here in Damaturu, because no vehicle is allowed to use that road now,” a source said.
“In fact, the time we left Maiduguri for Damaturu, we could feel the presence of the insurgents as we heard that some motorists have been earlier attacked. Although the military has marched into this area, we believe hundreds of the insurgents are still within the bushy villages along this axis, hiding.”
Another source in Damaturu said transport workers in the areas affected have moved their vehicles from the park for fear of attacks.
There was also an exchange of fire, Monday, between the army and the insurgents in Jakana village in Konduga local government area of Borno State. Jakana is one of the communities on the Damaturu-Maiduguri axis.
