A group, the Association of Oil Theft Sensitisation Initiative (AOTSI), has urged the Inspector General of Police (IG) to clear illegal roadblocks mounted by suspected cultists on the East-West Road.
It said the illegal checkpoints were mounted from Benin City to the Port Harcourt axis of the road, through the Delta State corridor.
In a July 4 letter to the IG by its Coordinator, Abraham Ekokotu, AOTSI said if not checked, activities of the ‘hoodlums’ could degenerate into a cult war.
The group said the touts have been harassing motorists, especially tanker drivers, who they purportedly accuse of siphoning stolen petroleum products and transporting them to illegal markets.
Ekokotu alleged that some security agents were aware of the illegal roadblocks but have done nothing about them.
The former militant leader, who is Vice Chairman of the Coalition of Urhobo/Isoko Ex-militants, called on the Police to step action to avert what ‘an implosion due to the untoward activities of the illegal checkpoint operators’.
He added: “They block the road recklessly while the law enforcement agencies play the ostrich, perhaps waiting for the worst to happen before acting. The IG should save the region from impending calamities.
“If these groups must be on our roads, the conventional security agents must be with them to check their activities.
“How do we allow a bunch of miscreants to mount roadblocks on our major highways without anyone overseeing their activities. The time to act is now.”