DTSG Sacks Taskforce Over Alleged Extortion, Bribery Scandals

The Delta state government, on Sunday, sacked the taskforce members on transportation in the state.

This came on the heels of increasing demand for its disbandment over allegations of extortion and bribe takings from motorists.

The director general of DESMA, Delta State Traffic Management Agency Mr Sam Idah who confirmed the sack of the taskforce members in Asaba expressed concern over the activities of the taskforce members.

He said: “The decision to sack the taskforce members was taken at the EXCO meeting last week and was conveyed to the members and officially made known on Sunday. The taskforce members were turned into touts extorting road users and claiming to enforce traffic laws on behalf of the state government and DESTMA management.

ALSO READ : Chicago Mayor Asks Schools To Reopen Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

“We are shocked at the overwhelming extortion.” Tracing the creation of the taskforce in the directorate to the previous administration of Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Idah noted that the activities of the taskforce members were totally out of place, adding “I am against their (taskforce) using DESTMA laws to extort people and pay such money into private accounts.”

Residents of Delta, especially road users, have been infuriated by the activities of the taskforce members who were accused of extorting money from them daily, a situation over which some people petitioned the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

This led to the governor ordering a probe into the activities and the findings being submitted last week.

The findings, apart from sacking the entire force, also recommended immediate arrest of its members.

The Delta state commissioner for transport, Mr Oviemuno Oghoore, said: “You will agree with me that the happenings in Asaba perpetrated by the taskforce members was shameful. Over time, these taskforce members were working like criminals and we confirmed this to the state governor who ordered a probe and the findings were very shameful and the state government sacked them.”

He said DESTMA and the state ministry of transport were never in conflict as widely speculated in the state.

According to a victim, Mr Mathew Idinojuo, “The invasion by these taskforce members were pained to residents of the state. They were intimidating residents and road users and they harassed people to bring out money they didn’t work. It was all sad experience in the state. We are happy that they have been sacked.”