By Bukola Afolabi
Veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, has voiced his concerns about the heavy military and police presence in Nigeria’s South-East, raising questions about the government’s approach to the region. In a video posted on his Instagram page on Wednesday, the actor highlighted the difficulties faced by travellers, particularly the frequent checkpoints and the treatment they receive.
Kanayo contrasted his experience in the South-East with a recent journey from Ibadan to Lagos, covering a distance of 80 kilometers without encountering any police or army checkpoints. “I left Felele Olorunsogo area of Ibadan at 7:15 AM, and by 8:15 AM, I was already in Lagos,” he said. “Not a single checkpoint along the way.”
He then expressed frustration over the excessive security checkpoints in the South-East, noting that the 200-kilometer journey between Enugu and Onitsha is riddled with delays and harassment. Passengers are often asked to disembark from vehicles with their hands raised, an action Kanayo described as humiliating.
“Why is the South-East so militarized? Are we still part of Nigeria? It’s important to understand. Have the representatives even seen the condition of the federal roads in this region?” Kanayo questioned, urging the government to address the issues plaguing the South-East.
