Allegations of extortion at police checkpoints on Ugbolu-Illaha road, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State on Monday sparked protest from motorists who ply the road on daily basis.
The protesting motorists, according to eyewitness John Eke, displayed placards with inscriptions such as: “Police we are tired of N100 payment for no reason adduced; This fraud and extortion must stop; Police stop collecting money from us; Thief,Thief, police you will rather kill us, we will not pay again; our papers are complete; IGP please come to our aid, Commissioner of police call your men to order, we are tired of the extortion please”.
DAILY POST gathered that over six check points litter the deplorable Ugbolu-Illaha road with heavily armed policemen allegedly demanding payment of N100 from each motorist on every trip to and fro.
It was further gathered that motorists are also allegedly subjected to various forms of punishment for refusing to part with N100 especially on demand by the officers who are said not to be even bothered by the need to check the papers of vehicle owners plying the road.
But the state Commissioner of Police, Mustafa Muhammad, in a swift reaction, told journalists in Asaba that, “It is not true that the policemen on Ugbolu-Illaha road are extorting motorists N100. Ugbolu-Illaha road had been a flash point in the recent times and it was resolved that more policemen be drafted to the road.
“We get complaints and reports every day and we have arrested a number of criminals on the road. The police presence on the road has reduced everyday robbery. The motorists are just protesting for nothing. However, we will carry out investigation to ascertain the claims of the motorists, and if found to be true, the policemen involved will be dismissed without trial,” Muhammad said.
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