The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has accused some soldiers of disregarding a directive by the newly sworn-in Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), to withdraw military personnel from roadblocks across the country, particularly in the South East.
HURIWA, in a statement on Friday, said evidence from the region during the recent Yuletide period showed that soldiers remained entrenched at numerous checkpoints, contrary to the minister’s public assurance that troops would be redeployed strictly for counterinsurgency and internal security operations.
The group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed concern that the defence minister may have been misled into believing his order had been fully implemented. He noted that rather than easing road movements, soldiers and other security operatives continued to mount barricades, allegedly subjecting motorists to harassment, extortion and prolonged traffic delays.
Onwubiko described the situation as troubling, arguing that it undermined the long-held principle of military discipline and the chain of command. He said the continued presence of armed personnel at roadblocks in the South East contradicted the minister’s stated reform agenda and raised questions about operational compliance within the security architecture.
HURIWA recalled that General Musa had, during his Senate screening, identified the withdrawal of soldiers from checkpoints as a key plank of his strategy to tackle insecurity more effectively. The minister had explained that routine checkpoint duties would be transferred to the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, allowing the military to focus on core security threats.
For decades, soldiers have been deployed at checkpoints on major highways, particularly in flashpoint areas, in support of civil authorities. However, rights groups have consistently argued that the practice fuels abuses and distracts the military from its primary mandate.
HURIWA urged the defence minister to urgently review the situation in the South East, enforce compliance with his directive and ensure accountability within the ranks. The organisation warned that failure to align policy pronouncements with realities on the ground could erode public confidence and weaken ongoing security reforms.
