November 01, (THEWILL) – Social and commercial activities have been paralysed at Ugba, the headquarters of Logo Local Government area of Benue state, following protest by motorists and motorcycle riders, over alleged extortion by men of the Nigeria Police Force.
The protesters, at the early morning hours blocked the Ugba-Zaki Biam road at the entrance of the Ugba International Yam Market, stopping movements of vehicles coming from the North-East part and those coming from the southern and eastern parts of the country.
The NURTW Patrol Officer in the area, Mr Oluka Wergba, said the blockage is to ensure that the government intervenes in the extortion been perpetrated by men of the Nigeria Police, who have established more than six check points within the area.
“At each point, they extort N1,000 by force from us at this time fuel is been hiked.”
The Acting chairman, who is the Director, General Services and Administration (DGSA), of Logo Local Government Council, Mr Terfa Kajo, said some commercial vehicle drivers came and reported to him some days back with a complaint and the NURTW chairman, Gandepun Tyopugh, promised to see the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
He wondered why it has gone to the level of blocking the highway; promising to call the DPO to calm the situation.
A motorcycle rider, one Joseph Agbidye Akpa, alleged that the police operatives are always on the highway extorting them, while the ‘bad boys’ in the axis are always snatching their motorcycles without an attempt to stop them by the police personnel in the area.
Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State command, SP Sewuese Anene, to confirm the incident failed as at the time of filing this report.
