Hundreds killed, billions of naira extorted in South-East in just two months – Intersociety
A civil rights organization, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has raised alarming accusations against security agencies and non-state actors in the South-East of Nigeria. The group claims that at least 180 people have been killed in the region between December 2024 and January 2025, while over N21 billion was extorted from the people during the same period.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Intersociety outlined what it described as “rampant killings, abductions, and disappearances” during the Christmas and New Year holidays, pointing to a significant increase in violent acts as criminals sought to seize large sums of money from the region’s residents.
The statement, signed by the Board Chair Emeka Umeagbalasi, Head of Democracy and Good Governance Chinwe Umeche, Head of Campaign and Publicity Chidinma Udegbunam, and Head of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law Obianuju Joy Igboeli, detailed the staggering figures.
Intersociety claims that security personnel from both the police and military extorted a total of N21.8 billion from citizens, with the police pocketing N15 billion and the military N6.8 billion through roadblocks and checkpoint extortions. According to the group, the most notorious checkpoints are located at Uga Junction and Atani Road Naval checkpoints, which are said to collect up to N600 million from civilians in just two months.
The organization further alleges that kidnappers have seized at least N600 million in ransom from abducted victims between December 28, 2024, and January 18, 2025, with the total amount extorted by kidnappers rising to N1.2 billion over the two months.
Intersociety also reported that 180 South-Easterners were killed within this period—140 by armed non-state actors and 40 by the police, military, and vigilante groups. Additionally, the group claims that 200 individuals were abducted, with 160 of them taken by armed groups and 40 others allegedly taken by security forces.
The findings are based on detailed research and investigations compiled in the group’s December 2024 Special International Report titled Ocean Of Innocent Blood Flowing In Eastern Nigeria. According to the report, the extortion practices are rampant across the South-East, with approximately 300 military roadblocks and 500 patrol teams engaging in illicit activities.
Intersociety highlighted that the Nigerian military’s involvement in extortion contradicts the Armed Forces Act of 2004, which prescribes up to 14 years in prison for military personnel caught extorting civilians. The report estimates that the military’s daily extortions from roadblocks amount to N80 million, translating to approximately N4.8 billion over the past two months.
The police, meanwhile, are said to have pocketed around N15 billion over the same period, with Imo State alone accounting for almost N3 billion of that total.
The group also cited an alarming trend of corrupt practices by the Nigerian Navy, particularly at the Ogbaru Base in Anambra, which reportedly collected at least N600 million from roadblock extortions in two months.
These claims have yet to receive a formal response from the police or the military.
This is not the first time Intersociety has raised serious allegations against security forces in the region. The organization continues to call for urgent reforms to address the widespread extortion and violence that it claims are plaguing the South-East.
