The Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide has called on the Governor of Imo State and the High Command of the Nigerian Navy in Imo State to investigate the alleged artificial traffic and illegal extortion of motorists at the Akachi Junction by the Operatives of the Akachi Naval Outpost of the Nigerian Navy.
The group in a statement signed by its national President, Chilos Godsent stated that the Naval operatives has abandoned their role which is to ensure safety and orderliness to extorting of motorists.
He said ‘’The Naval Operatives deployed at the aforementioned Naval Outpost with the task of providing Security in that Area has converted the Navy Check Point at Akachi Junction into an illegal tollgate where many motorists are arbitrarily extorted and artificial traffic is deliberately orchestrated in order to create the enabling environment for the extortion.’’
INC decried prolonged traffic at the Akachi Check Point describing it as embarrassing to trained Nigerian Naval Operatives.
‘’We are pained that in this hard time with high cost of fuel, motorists spend between ten to thirty minutes on traffic in a distance not up to one hundred (100) meters long without justifiable reasons.
It has also become very embarrassing to see trained Nigerian Naval Operatives doing the work of Police Traffic Warden on expressway inside Owerri City.
Finally, we are using this medium to call on Governor Hope Uzodimma and the Naval High Command in Imo State to order for immediate stop of this traffic racketeering by the Nigerian Navy at the Akachi Naval Outpost Owerri.’’
We therefore request the Government of Imo State and the High Command of the Nigerian Navy in Imo State to set-up Investigative and Monitoring Team to arrest this shameful situation and if possible, bring the culprits to book ‘’the group added.