Extortion: Drivers Seek Army Chief’s Intervention

Commercial drivers plying the Enugu-Onitsha high way have condemned in strong terms what they described as?alarming rate of extortion and harassment they allegedly suffer in the hands of?armed soldiers operating along?the road.

  They are also appealing to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant? General Azubuike? Ihejirika and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu to come to their rescue.

Some of the aggrieved commercial drivers who spoke to newsmen in Enugu at the weekend, under anonymity, further alleged that?the soldiers have turned virtually all the check points along the high way into compulsory illegal toll?gates where commercial drivers are forced to pay between N100 to N2,000 ?depending on the type of vehicle involved..

The worried looking commercial vehicle operators, who also called on the media and Enugu State government to come to their  rescue, described the sudden development as very worrisome act that should be checked by the army leadership without delay.

According to them, “We know that the Chief of Army Staff can help us solve this serious problem by asking the GOC, 82 Division Enugu to immediately investigate the activities of the soldiers posted to the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway ?because they are really dragging the image of the Army to the mud”.

However, one of the aggrieved driver, who gave his name as Peter Aneke, mentioned specifically Umunba Ndionu, check point which falls under Ezeagu local government area of Enugu state, as one of the places? where the soldiers allegedly?perpetrate? the “unholy conduct on daily basis”.

Aneke, who said he is a graduate of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, but ventured into driving business due to lack of? better job, stated, “My brother, let me tell you the truth, these Army guys are becoming a serious problem to us along this road, because every day a mini bus driver? spends not less than N200 ?to N300 on them, and this is?outside the one you will give to police, or they will ask you to park your vehicle? and come down”.

Meanwhile, frantic efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of the Assistant Army Public Relations Officer for 82 Division, Lt Col. Gambo Haladu,?did not yield any fruitful dividend as attempts made to get him on mobile phone proved abortive.