Kanayo O. Kanayo Questions Heavy Security Presence In South-East

By Utebor Paul, Nigeria

Veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo has raised concerns about the excessive number of security checkpoints in the SouthEast region, compared to other parts of the country. 

In a video he posted on Instagram, the actor expressed frustration over the frequent roadblocks, which he described as a source of delay and humiliation for travellers in the region.

Kanayo, who travelled from Felele Olorunshogo, Ibadan, to Lagos in an hour, noted that during his 80-kilometre journey, he did not encounter a single police or military checkpoint. He contrasted this with the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, where he said numerous checkpoints make travel difficult.

“Over a distance of 80 kilometres, I didn’t see one checkpoint, one police checkpoint or an Army checkpoint,” Kanayo stated. “But have you ever plied the Onitsha/Enugu express road? Did you ever count the number of police or military checkpoints?”

He questioned why the South East is heavily militarised, stating that travellers cannot go more than 200 metres without encountering a checkpoint. 

According to the actor, frequent stops subject people to delays and humiliation, with some passengers being asked to step out of vehicles and raise their hands.

Kanayo went further to question whether the South East is being treated as an equal part of Nigeria, saying, “Is this hatred? Is this dislike? This is not good. Is the South East still part of Nigeria?”