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The Enugu State Government has banned all traffic task force operations on federal highways across the Enugu metropolis, with immediate effect, to curb the activities of fake enforcement officials accused of extorting motorists.
The directive was announced in a statement issued yesterday by the Commander of the Enugu State Traffic Management Authority (ESTMA), Mr. Kenneth Aniebonam Ugwu, and made available by the spokesperson to Governor Peter Mbah, Dan Nwomeh.
The government said the decision followed reports of individuals impersonating officials of the Enugu State Ministry of Transport to harass and extort motorists on federal highways, actions it said had tarnished the image of the ministry and undermined lawful traffic enforcement.
The statement noted that the ban is part of the state’s efforts to eliminate illegal traffic enforcement activities and restore public confidence in the transport regulatory system.
The government said the impostors had been posing as officials of the Ministry of Transport, while stopping motorists on federal highways and allegedly demanding illegal payments.
It added that the Ministry of Transport had constituted a special enforcement team to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those behind the illegal operations.
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The statement further disclosed that some suspected fake task force operatives were recently arrested while allegedly extorting motorists in different parts of the Enugu metropolis. The suspects are said to be undergoing interrogation and would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The government urged motorists and members of the public to report suspected fake task force officials or lodge genuine complaints through the Office of the Commander of the Enugu State Traffic Management Authority (ESTMA) for immediate intervention.
It warned that anyone found harassing or extorting motorists under the guise of traffic enforcement would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The directive takes immediate effect and applies to all traffic task force operations on federal highways within the Enugu metropolis.
The ban does not suspend lawful traffic management by the Enugu State Traffic Management Authority (ESTMA). Instead, it targets illegal traffic task force operations on federal highways. The decision followed reports that individuals were impersonating government officials to extort motorists.
