Angry commercial cyclists plying the Ajuwo area of
Ogun State have called on the state commissioner of police to save them from
police extortion.
The
cyclists said that the policemen allegedly had the penchant for seizing their
motorcycles if they didn’t pay N100. These activity, which many of the cyclists
termed as illegal, has left them fuming, with many saying they didn’t how much
more they would tolerant from these policemen. They alleged that the police are
from Ajuwo Police Station.
One
of the cyclists said: “The policemen have been collecting money from cyclists
in this area. This has made plying these Ajuwon routes quite challenging.”
Another
cyclist, who wishes to remain anonymous, explaining that most of the policemen
know them by full names, explained: “These policemen usually flag us down for
no reasons or offence, but just to extort money from us. They collect N100 from
each of us every day. They start their extortions at about 9pm every day; and
if we refuse to play ball, they would seize our motorcycles and most times
arrest us.”
He
added: “The policemen had warned us to stop working any time after 10:15pm. Once
it strikes 11pm, the policemen would start arresting cyclists they see still
operating. They will demand for money, if you don’t give them, they’ll arrest
you.”
Another
cyclist, who preferred to be addressed as Daddy Favour, said: “I don’t usually
work at night, but I work during the day because of the policemen. I started
this work just two months ago. I don’t want any trouble. Look at me; I usually work
throughout the day to make money to feed my family. We usually pay the union
and then we pay the police. If we don’t pay the police, they arrest us. I simply
choose not to work at night. I work from 7am to 6pm. Any money I’m able to make
between those hours, I used it to take care of my family.”
Abdullahi,
another cyclist said: “I usually start work by 6:30am or 7am. I close by 7pm or
8pm because of those policemen. Even the Union of Road Transport Workers
(NURTW), knows that these policemen extort us. But the Union is less concern
because it collects money from us. Every day, I pay N700 for ticket to the
Union. Most days, I make between N2000 and N3000. I then pay for the ticket
from the money. After paying, they will use marker to mark my motorcycle, signifying
that I have paid.”
Complaining
with obvious anger, Mr. Ramon said: “I have been working here for the past two
years. Truly these policemen collect money from us. We’re not happy with it,
but as for me, there is nothing we can do. I work till night and I usually pay
the money to them. We have no choice! I’m a married man; I have kids at home.
My children will eat and I have to pay their school fees. I can’t say because
of the N100 I wouldn’t continue with my cycling work. Yes, it’s not right for
them to be extorting us, but I also need to work to take care of my wife and
children.”
Ramon
added: “There are many married men involved in this work. We have something in
common; we want to work, raise money to care for our families. One I know for
sure is this; if the policemen collect N100 from 20 cyclists, they take N2000
home every day. Mind you, we’re more than 20 cyclists operating in Ajuwo. This is
what they do every day. They don’t care about the stress and danger cyclists go
through. Look at us now, in the scorching sun, just because we want to make
money and take care of our children.”
A
resident, Daddy Joshua said: “The policemen have become a thorn in the flesh of
these cyclists. I work at Mowe and usually return late at night. Whenever I get
to that Ajuwon bus stop, I wouldn’t find any cyclist. Even why I see, they tell
me they are not going. And if they agree to carry me, they will tell me to add
money to the normal fare because they would have to ‘settle’ policemen on the
road. These policemen are really causing problem to everyone. There is
corruption everywhere. I’m sure the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge
of Ajuwon Police Station knows that his men are extorting these struggling
cyclists. He will keep mum, because he would collect money from his men. The
Ogun State government should look into this matter with the utmost urgency.”
Reacting
to the allegations raised by the cyclists, the Ogun State Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO), a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Abimbola Oyeyemi,
said: “It’s not true! Our policemen cannot extort the cyclists. We have been
sensitizing the public from time to time through radio programmes, educating
them not to give money to policemen anymore. Any cyclist that has issue with
the police should lodge a complaint to the police authority for proper action
to be taken. The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Illyasu, has zero
tolerance for extortion."
He added: "Four policemen were dismissed last
year for extortion. An operative attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(SARS) was dismissed for similar offence. We don't tolerate that in Ogun State
Police Command.”
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