What happened?
We have found during an investigation that the checkpoints set up on some major roads in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria, are being used to extort up to ₦100 million yearly. We have been able to establish a probable link between this crippling extortion and the cost of living crisis as well as the economic downturn in the areas.
Due to the intensity of attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the state, especially along roads such as Bama-Maiduguri, Monguno-Maiduguri, and Damboa-Maiduguri, military, police and vigilante checkpoints were established on some of the roads that still had some forms of vulnerability to attacks. The purpose of these was to help scrutinize passing vehicles and passengers before granting them passage.
However, an investigation by HumAngle has found that these checkpoints are being used as extortion mechanisms by security forces on innocent people who ply the road. Through methods that ranged from plying the roads ourselves and monitoring the activities at the checkpoints, and establishing the number of vehicles that take the road from certain motor parks in Maiduguri, we have been able to establish the following facts:
- That ₦9.1 million is being extorted yearly through the Maiduguri-Monguno road.
- That ₦59.2 million is being extorted yearly on the Maiduguri-Gubio road.
- That ₦5.7 million is being extorted yearly on the Maiduguri-Gwoza road.
- That ₦26.6 million is being extorted in Maiduguri-Mafa road.
In this interactive map, we provide a breakdown of our findings and the routes involved.
Why does it matter?
The extortion means that the integrity of the security forces has been compromised. It also means that it plays a factor in the descent of economic activities and even the worsening of the cost of living crisis. Since the drivers must find a way to ensure that despite the extortions and the fuel price burden, they have some form of profit left to care for themselves and their families, they are forced to shift the burden to passengers by increasing the fares, they told us. This, in a country experiencing an intense cost of living crisis, further complicates matters and worsens the price of wares and products, especially those that are passed through these routes.
What can be done?
To curtail this, the heads of the various security units masterminding this extortion need to be held accountable and sanctioned. Without accountability, the situation will not only persist but worsen. The cost of living crisis will persist despite palliative support by the state government, and the economic activities in the affected areas will suffer despite any efforts from the government. Our investigation has already mapped out which security outfits are stationed where, and how their activities are carried out. HumAngle is also available to provide more insight to aid the accountability process.
