Motorists accuse police of extortion on Ughelli- Jeremi Road

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Commercial motorists plying the Ughelli- Jeremiah Road in Delta state have accused the police of extorting money from them whenever they ply the road.

A motorist who claimed to be a victim of the alleged extortion, Omokiniovo Frank said they (drivers) undergo horrible ordeals in the hands of police officers who mount roadblocks at three different positions along the Ughelli- Jeremi Road

“We are tired of the police officers on Ughelli-Jeremi Road as they collect from us every day N100 at every check -point on the road

“Each of the check- point which begins from Oteri Ovwor Olomu Road, Ovwu Secondary School by late David Ejoor’s house and Okpare Iwherekan Road, the police officers collect N100 each from us,” the motorist alleged.

The aggrieved motorists further alleged that the activities of the police officers have affected their operations in using the route and as a result they have increased their fares to enable them meet the demands of the police officers on the road.

“It doesn’t matter to the police officers if the particulars of your vehicle are complete or not, the police officers must collect N100 each from us even if we drive with passengers five times,” they further alleged.

However, they have appealed to the Ughelli area commander and the commissioner of police in the state to help stop the alleged extortion by officers and men of the police on the road blocks.

Responding to the allegation of extortion, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeyinka Adeleke described the allegations as frivolous, saying that he was yet to receive any formal petition in writing from the affected motorists stating their ordeal.

“As I speak with you journalists, the motorists have not written to me or stated who and who have been involved in the extortion, and all their allegations are frivolous,” Adeleke said