IGP petitioned over alleged extortion of motorists in Abia

The Inspector General of Poilce (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has been petitioned over alleged extortion of motorists around Abia State by members of the Nigeria Police.

The petitioner, Elder Obioha Mgbeike who described himself as a victim of a combined team of policemen and members of its sister units “who have been extorting money from drivers,” said the extorting of drivers plying the Umuahia-UzuakoliAkara-Ohafia road by policemen, Federal Road Safety Corps officials, and soldiers was capable of causing chaos if not checked.

Mgbeike said in the petition he made available to newsmen in Umuahia, that drivers were made to part with N2,000 by the security agents, especially those who usually stayed at the Uzuakoli junction of the road on market days.

The petition read in part, "I was carrying wooden frames in a Toyota Dyna Truck from Umuahia to my village in Umuimenyi, Bende, and on approaching Amorji Lodu Junction there were men of the mobile court with some policemen, soldiers, and some men of the Road Safety Corps. Cars were allowed to pass but trucks and commercial buses were made to pay a minimum of N2000. My driver approached them with N1000 but they rejected his offer and told him to pay N2000 or wait till their operation was over. We were there from 1:15 pm till 6:00 pm before trucks that could not afford N2000 like us were allowed to pass."

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi, had during a media chat warned policemen at "nipping points" against extortion which he said would not be condoned.