By Nwabueze Okonkwo

ONITSHA—THE Coalition of Human Rights Organizations, SBCHROs is kicking against what it termed numerous road blocks mounted on the highways by the police in the South East zone.

SBCHROs said their updated checks  showed that there are not less than 250 police roadblocks on Anambra federal and state roads as well as the city roads, adding that each police roadblock  extorts  a minimum of N50 and average of N100 from each commercial motorist; translating into at least N30,000 for each police roadblock per day; N7.5million daily from not less than 250 police roadblocks; N225million monthly  and N2.7Billion per year.

But in a reaction, Anambra State Police Commissioner, Samuel Okaula dismissed the allegation , saying that the presence of the police on the highways in strategic parts of the state was aimed to  scare the criminals along the roads, particularly this yuletide season.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra state, leader of the coalition, Emeka Umeagbalasi said the same facts and circumstances are applicable to Abia State; another major blue-collar state after Anambra , with its 250 police road blocks pocketing N2.7 billion per year.The group noted that Imo State has at least 200 police roadblocks to its name; with each police roadblock pocketing not less than N15,000 daily, N3Million for its 200 police roadblocks per day, N90million per month . N1.08Billion per annum.