File photo: Police officer
Residents and motorists in Calabar, Cross River State, have accused officers of the Nigeria Police Force of extortion at a checkpoint close to the Post Office complex, allegedly linked to the Atakpa Police Station.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday in Calabar, they alleged that officers block the road every evening and collect between N200, N500 and more from taxi and commercial bus drivers plying the highway to the popular Watt Market.
Some of the drivers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the collection had become a daily routine, especially during peak hours when commuters troop to Watt Market for trading, while other drivers are publicly harassed if they fail to comply.
“They block the road every evening. If you don’t pay N200 or N500, they will delay you or threaten to impound your vehicle,” one taxi driver said.
