Following the set up of several check points by policemen and soldiers on the ever busy Owerri-Porthacourt road, commercial drivers and motorists have raised an alarm on the matter and planning an accompanying protest that the locations have allegedly turned into extortion points against them.
Trumpeta checks has noticed several checkpoints by soldiers and policemen on the road. From Control Post area of Owerri to Umuagwo, extending to Umuapu of Ohaji/Egbema LGA, a journey of not less than 20 kilometers, about 30 checkpoints mounted by police and soldiers exist.
And in each of those checkpoints, our correspondent noticed that commercial vehicle operators must part with not less than N100 to the security agencies at the location. In some cases, N500 is paid.
This practice which got increased during the lockdown appears to have become permanent exercise, forcing road users especially drivers to raise the alarm of increasing extortion.
Trumpeta also noticed in the wave of the creation of the special task force against bribery on the road by the IG of Police, the policemen now use civilians in multi to extort monies from commercial drivers. A trip by our Trumpeta revealed that from Control Post to Housing Junction, there is a checkpoint and towards Porthacourt road near where the dual carriage begins, a police check point also exist where drivers part away with money.
Before getting to new Police headquarters in Avu, about two police checkpoints are also mounted. In front of the new police headquarters is another checkpoint operated by Anti Kidnapping team, popularly known as Ndi (Okpu Red). At Avu junction, soldiers have a beat which commenced since the lockdown. After Avu junction towards Obinze, in Owerri West, not less than four police checkpoints are spotted. One peculiar characteristics our reporter spotted was that the drivers drop not less than N100, or no more movement.
At FUTO/Umuokanne junction in Obinze, no commercial vehicle passes without stopping to quietly drop monies to the army operatives at the point. Initially, the team was at the Obinze Porthacourt road but has extended to the other side of the dual carriage. Before Obinze Gariki after the Army barrack, another checkpoint mounted by the Soldiers involved in extortion of motorist also operates.
Between Umuagwo and the border town, countless numbers of police and army checkpoints arbitrarily collect money from roads users as their main activity.
In view of these irritating extortions, commercial drivers have jerked the transport fare of the route. For instance, from Umuagwo to Owerri which was initially N150, is now N300.
The new price has pitched the drivers against the communities over the exorbitant price.
Trumpeta reliably learnt that youth of communities comprising Umuagwo, Mgbirichi and Obinze located on the road are planning to embark on a protest alongside the drivers against the police and army over the continuous extortion exercise. It was also gathered that a protest letter to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, and Army Commander in Obinze concerning the activities of their personnel involved in the act shall be forwarded.
