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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Calabar Residents and Motorists Accuse Police of Extortion as Command Denies Allegations

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Residents and drivers in Calabar, Cross River State, allege that police officers collect between 200 and 500 naira or more from commercial vehicles at an evening checkpoint.
  • They say the alleged payments cause delays, harassment and higher transport fares.
  • The police command says it does not tolerate extortion and asks complainants to report incidents with details such as vehicle numbers, times and locations.

Residents and motorists in Calabar say an evening police checkpoint near the Post Office complex has become a daily collection point for payments from taxi and commercial bus drivers.

The checkpoint is allegedly linked to Atakpa Police Station. Drivers told The PUNCH that officers stop vehicles heading toward Watt Market and demand 200 naira, 500 naira or more, particularly during peak hours. They said drivers who refuse may face delays, threats of vehicle impoundment or public harassment.

They block the road every evening. If you don’t pay N200 or N500, they will delay you or threaten to impound your vehicle

— Unnamed taxi driverThe driver alleged that officers demanded payments at the Calabar checkpoint.

One taxi driver described the collections as a daily routine. Another motorist, Effiom Effiong, said drivers now include the alleged “settlements” in passenger fares. He also said the checkpoint creates traffic and that officers appear more interested in collecting money than providing security. Resident Emmanuel Bassey called the officers selfish and greedy, saying the alleged payments added to the burden facing people in the area.

The road is blocked every evening. It creates hold-up and the officers are only interested in collecting money, not security

— Effiom EffiongThe motorist described the checkpoint’s effect on traffic and passengers.

Drivers and commuters called on police authorities to dismantle the checkpoint or assign officers focused on preventing crime rather than collecting money. The allegations come after repeated warnings from Cross River Commissioner of Police Ajo-Geoffrey Ordue against extortion and unprofessional conduct.

Police Public Relations Officer ASP Sunday Eitokpah said the command did not condone extortion. He urged anyone who encounters misconduct to submit evidence, including the patrol vehicle number, time and location of the incident.

The command does not tolerate any form of extortion by members of Nigeria Police

— Sunday EitokpahThe police spokesperson denied that the command accepted extortion and asked the public to provide evidence.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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