Lawyers drag military to court over too many checkpoints in Southeast, demand N5bn damages
Southeast Lawyers File Class Action Suit Against Military Checkpoints
A legal team led by Aloy Ejimakor and Patrick Agazie has filed a class action lawsuit in the Enugu State High Court challenging the proliferation of military checkpoints throughout Nigeria’s Southeast region. The suit, initiated on June 17, 2026, lists the Chief of Army Staff, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Federal Government as respondents.
The plaintiffs argue that the military checkpoints have become oppressive, posing significant hardships for residents. Chinedu Augustine Agbodike is the applicant representing the Southeast population.
In the lawsuit, the legal team is seeking five billion naira in damages for ongoing violations of citizens’ fundamental rights. The complaint outlines several key claims, asserting that the deployment and operation of military checkpoints have led to harassment, extortion, arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions, and even extrajudicial killings. These actions are said to violate rights protected under both the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The suit further seeks declarations that:
- The militarization of internal policing and the establishment of checkpoints in Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, and Abia States are unconstitutional and violate fundamental rights.
- The assumption of internal policing powers by military personnel, traditionally held by the Nigeria Police Force, constitutes an unlawful usurpation of authority.
- The military presence disproportionately interferes with citizens’ rights to freedom of movement, personal liberty, dignity, and protection against discrimination.
Additionally, the plaintiffs request that all military checkpoints be dismantled unless legally authorized and that an independent investigation be initiated into military personnel involved in reported abuses from 2018 to the present. They are also seeking a public apology published in national media and a permanent injunction against future military checkpoints, except under specific legal conditions.
This class action suit highlights growing concerns among Southeast residents regarding security measures that many view as excessive and harmful to everyday life.
