NEWS
HURIWA Raises Alarm Over Soldiers’ Defiance of Defence Minister’s Orders, Roadblocks Persist Across South East Nigeria
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised serious concerns over the apparent disobedience of soldiers across the South East, who have continued to operate roadblocks despite orders from the newly sworn-in Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, directing their withdrawal for exclusive deployment in counterinsurgency and internal security operations.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed deep regret over the situation, noting that while the Defence Minister may have believed his directive was being implemented, ground realities during the 2025 Yuletide season suggested otherwise. Reports indicated that hundreds of roadblocks remained active across the region, manned by both military personnel and police officers. These checkpoints not only caused severe traffic congestion but also became sites of alleged extortion, with drivers subjected to unnecessary harassment despite the presence of armed security personnel.
The organisation pointed out that soldiers are traditionally expected to obey orders from their commanders, and the ongoing disregard for General Musa’s instruction raises critical questions about discipline and accountability within the military. HURIWA emphasized that such practices undermine public trust in security agencies and create obstacles for smooth transportation and commerce in the region.
General Musa, a retired general who recently assumed office, had highlighted the withdrawal of soldiers from roadblocks as a key component of his strategy to tackle insecurity and insurgency more effectively. Under his plan, responsibilities at roadblocks were to be fully transferred to police officers and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), allowing the military to focus solely on specialized security operations.
For decades, the Nigerian military has been deployed at roadblocks across the country, particularly in volatile regions, to support civil authorities in maintaining law and order. The persistence of these checkpoints, despite official orders, has raised concerns about operational compliance and the potential need for stronger enforcement measures to ensure security policies are implemented.
HURIWA’s alert serves as a reminder that meaningful reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture require not only visionary leadership but also strict adherence to orders at all levels of command, lest the objectives of reform and effective counterinsurgency be undermined by routine misconduct.