Rage of cyclists: These policemen are robbers in uniform

Damilare Oguntoyinbo

Commercial cyclists operating along Yusuf Nureni road, Alagbado area of Lagos state have called on Lagos state commissioner of police, Mr. Edgal Imohimi, to come and save them from the hands of policemen that extort them almost on a daily basis.

Many of them, who made these allegations, said they were tired of being seen as an Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) by the policemen. They further alleged that for those riding motorcycle, they paid N200, while those riding tricycles paid N100.

They further alleged that because of incessant police extortion, their take home pay, can no longer take them home, let alone to be enough to take care of their families.

One of them, Mr. Kolade Sumbo, said: “There are two policemen that come here on a daily basis, but now they are three. They usually hang around Yusuf Road, where they flag down any cyclist they sight, demanding for N100. They are usually there at evening time.”

Sumbo said that on most Friday nights, two policemen will hang around the route, while on Saturdays there would be three.

“They are on illegal operation. They will leave where they are posted and come here to disturb us every night,” fumed Sumbo.

Another cyclist, Samod Sherrif explained that the policemen usually start operating around 8pm.

Sherrif said: “Once its 8pm, they start collecting N200 from cyclists. If we failed to give them, they will impound our motorcycles and take them to their station.”

Sherrif, who described the policemen as robbers in uniform, disclosed that because of the continual harassments and extortion, many cyclists have stopped working at night.

Sherrif said: “Sometimes, we’ll be afraid of the person we want to carry. We want to make sure he is not a policeman. Some of them will be in mufti and then stop as normal passengers. They will sit down as passengers and then the next thing we know, they would grab us from behind and take us to their station. As a cyclist, if you’re not confident, you can fall into the wrong hands.”

Mr. Kunyeme Chike said that he had been stopped countless times by policemen, who asked money from him.

He added: “Police are meant to be secure members of the public, not to be a weapon or threat to individuals. These policemen have stopped me so many times, asking for particulars, and at the end, they will demand for money. Forcing people to give them money is a shame! It’s a shame on the Nigeria Police Force. We want police hierarchy and the state government to intervene and stop these policemen. We can’t continue to live this way.”

A tricycle rider, Mr. Kunle Bamidele, said: “We are tired of complaining about these policemen. I’m really ashamed of Nigeria.”

When the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer was told about the situation and asked what police were doing to check the extortion, he responded: “ We’re not aware of such acts going on in that community. We have not heard anything concerning issue of extortion in that area. But we shall also take steps to investigate the case and make sure the policemen involve are arrested.”