Delta: Commercial Vehicle Operators Lament Extortion By Police

By Our Correspondents

Commercial vehicle operators plying Abraka-Warri route have cried out over what they described as ‘extortion by Police officers along the route and park operators’, saying that it was the reason behind the increment in transport fair from Warri to Abraka.

They specifically lamented that they usually path with N100 forcefully to police officers at various checkpoints enroute Abraka every trip, especially during Eku market days, noting that the trend was becoming unbearable, calling on government and the relevant agencies to do something about this negative trend.

Speaking to our correspondent in Abraka on behalf of drivers plying the route, one of the drivers who simply gave his name as Francis, noted that the increment was necessitated due to the way park operators and police officers at various spots along the route collect money from them on daily basis.

He said: “The police and park operators are really frustrating our efforts. They will collect N600 from us every time we load at the park. And the police, at every stop will collect N100 and if you don’t pay, they will delay you for a longtime. We have almost seven to eight checkpoints from Warri to Abraka and each of this point, you will pay N100.

“Again, you will buy fuel and before you realize it, you must have spent the whole money before getting to Abraka. Imagine, we collect N500 each per person from Warri to Abraka, which will amount to N3,000. But by the time you give N1,400 or N1,500 to the police and park, how much will be remaining to buy fuel not to talk of the wear and tear in the vehicle,” he explained to our correspondent.

He added, “We are tired of this rubbish. If not, how can somebody reap where they have not sown. The police will be at their various spot and the parks operators too will be relaxing at the parks, yet they collect more than us who are always on the road risking our lives.”

They, therefore, called on the police authorities and leadership of parks to call their men to order as they were no longer comfortable with the development.