Rivers Goes Tough On Extortion

Akanimo Sampson

Bureau Chief, Port Harcourt

Rivers Goes Tough On Extortion, Harassment Of Citizens By Soldiers, Police

APPARENTLY irked by growing reports of extortion, and harassment of commercial transport operators including commercial motorcyclists in the rural areas of Rivers State by security agents, the state government has warned that they will deal appropriately with any law enforcement agent apprehended for repressing the citizenry.

Information Commissioner, Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke, who made this known in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday, said government has expressed concern over reported cases of harassment and extortion of innocent commercial motorcycle riders, in areas not affected by the ban on their operations, in parts of the state.

Nwuke spoke while briefing reporters after the State Executive Council’s meeting, the first in the New Year.

He, however,explained that in the case of Oyigbo and Eleme Local Government Areas, only the main township were affected by the ban on commercial motorcycle operation, and not the surrounding communities. The commissioner expressed regret that men suspected to be in uniform were harassing and extorting money from commercial motorcycle operators plying within the suburbs of Eleme and Oyigbo townships.

“The ban on Okada affected only Port Harcourt, Obio Akpor, Oyigbo and Eleme townships, and not the suburbs like Afam and Ebubu”, he said, pointing out that the alleged harassment of innocent citizens in the rural areas where the use of Okada has not been banned, is condemnable and will no longer be tolerated.

The State Executive Council meeting, according to Nwuke also expressed concern that men in Police uniform, who were expected to help enforce the laws, were the ones ridding motorcycles without crash helmets, stressing that as disciplined officers they were expected not only to implement, but respect existing laws.

Worried by what he termed ''artificial'' fuel scarcity in the state, the meeting which was chaired by Governor Chibuike Amaechi, directed the appropriate taskforce to swing into action with a view to checking the trend insisting that government would not allow any person or group of persons to exploit innocent citizens.

The information commissioner also announced that the state Executive Council has approved Governor Amaechi’s request to appoint Mrs. Aleruchi Cookey-Gam as the Special Administrator for the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority pending the constitution of an appropriate board, after the state House of Assembly might have put in place a law establishing the authority.

Government, Nwuke said is happy with Rivers people for their good conduct during the Christmas and New Year festivities and assured them of its determination to work in synergy with security agencies to ensure the safety of residents of the state as well as facilities central to the survival of the county located in the state.

ENDS

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