Drivers Petition IGP Over Extortion In PH

The Rivers Drivers Transport Co-operative Union Limited, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), over the incessant mounting of illegal roadblocks, extortions and aggressive demand of revenue by men of the law enforcement agents and some hoodlums who claimed to be government agents in Port Harcourt and its environs.
The union in a two-page petition signed by its President, Binoye Sunday and sent through the IGP x-squad, Port Harcourt, stated that the petition was necessary as some persons, had conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace and pandemonium in the State.
It accused the police and their cohorts of harassing, maiming, stealing, impounding, extorting and imposing illegal tickets on their members on daily basis at the various road blocks on the highways, major roads and streets even at government-owned bus-stops.
The petition further stated that some vulnerable areas where these unwholesome activities took place include, Lagos by Aggrey-Station Bus Stop, Aggrey by Ibeto loading point all in Port Harcourt Township, Oyigbo Expressway by Port Harcourt/Aba Expressway, Igwuruta roundabout and by the Market, Airforce Junction by Eliozu Road and Nitel by Garrison as well as Trans-Amadi by Slaughter Road, Ikoku by Amaigbo Road and Eleme junction.
“Other notorious places where similar dastard acts are carried out include, Igwuruta axis, Rumuokoro Junction, Rumuola axis, Rumuolumeni, Agip Junction by Abacha Road, Ikoku Junction, UST Back Gate by Azikiwe Street, Mile 2 Diobu Port Harcourt, Mile 1 Flyover, Eleme Junction and particularly Oyigbo where the notorious gang leader who mounted his boys on Oyigbo Expressway extort and intimidate road users,” the statement added.
The petitioners appealed to the Police boss to use his good office as the custodian of the law to bring those culprits to book to avert premonition of  war and anarchy in Rivers State and address it now as a stitch in time saves nine.
It also prayed that all the cases pending at the various police stations involving its members and the fake NURTW be transferred to his office for proper handling as several complaints had been lodged at various police divisional headquarters and area commands, but were treated with kid-glove till date while their members are suffering untold hardship following their activities.

Collins Barasimeye