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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Some operators of commercial motorcycles in Obehie, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have accused police in the area of extortion.
The okada riders complained that policemen from the Obehie Divisional Police Station have been mounting road block at the old Express Road junction at Obehie, accusing their members who ply the road of taking a wrong route.
Some of the okada riders who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity said a senior officer from the traffic section of the division and two female cops mount road block close to the entrance of the Magistrate Court, to allegedly harass and extort money from them on the spurious allegation that they took the wrong way.
The okada riders alleged that immediately their motorcycles were impounded, they were taken to the Police station, and released on payment of N5,000.
The motorcyclists who said they have been plying the road for years without any obstruction from anybody, wondered why police in the area would suddenly declared the route a no-go-area for motorcyclists.
They were of the view that if the state government has banned motorcyclists from using the route, it should be made public so that they would no longer victims of police harassment and extortion.
Efforts to reach the command’s police public relations officer, Maureen Chinaka for reaction was not fruitful.
