Commuters decry police extortion, rising robbery on S’East roads

Travelers navigating the South-East region of Nigeria are facing a dual threat of rampant police extortion and escalating robbery attacks, particularly along routes originating from the Onitsha Bridgehead in Anambra State. Motorists and passengers have voiced their distress over alleged "thieves" disguised as bus conductors who collect fares and then disappear, leaving passengers stranded. This, coupled with incessant extortions by security operatives at checkpoints, has significantly inflated transport costs.

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I am just traveling from Benin to Enugu. I stopped over at Onitsha. After running some errands, I came to board a vehicle to Enugu. When I arrived, I found out there were many unbranded commercial vehicles loading along the road – even in front of the park. A loader stopped me to board his vehicle, but I insisted that I must enter a recognised park. In the process of struggling with him, another person snatched one of my travelling bags containing my handset and other valuables.

One student, identified as Gracebell, recounted a harrowing experience while traveling from Edo State to Enugu. She was allegedly robbed of her handbag and phone by an individual who posed as a vehicle loader near a registered park in Onitsha. Despite her insistence on using official loading bays, she fell victim to the crime. She noted that such incidents are common in the area and suggested that Anambra, as a gateway state, needs better organization to curb criminal activities.

Another traveler, Uche Michael, shared similar frustrations, highlighting the "unnecessary headaches" faced by those using vehicles loaded along the roadside in the Upper Iweka area of Onitsha. He described being a victim of theft at a motor park in Amansea, Enugu, where his phone and wallet were stolen during a struggle. These accounts underscore a pervasive atmosphere of insecurity and exploitation on the region's roads, impacting daily commutes and inter-state travel.

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I did everything this afternoon, but I was not able to recover the bag and important items inside it.

The victims are urgently appealing to the state governors of the South-East and relevant security agencies to intervene and restore order. They hope for measures that will curb the criminal elements and ensure safer passage for commuters, alleviating the additional hardship these issues impose.

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I was a victim of a motor park in Amansea, Enugu, last week when they stole my phone and wallet in the course of draggin