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

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Some motorists and passengers plying South-East roads, beginning from the Onitsha Bridgehead in Anambra State, have decried the menace of police extortions, touting and manipulation by commercial vehicle operators along the corridors, as well as robbery attacks.

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Speaking to our correspondent in separate interviews, some of the passengers who had fallen victims, appealed to the state governors of the region, as well as security agencies to address the situation, noting that it has posed additional hardship on them.

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Findings by our correspondent between Sunday and Tuesday, showed that some motor parks have become major flashpoints, where “thieves” disguised as bus conductors and collect transport fares from unsuspecting inter-state passengers, after which they disappeared into thin air, leaving the passengers stranded.

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Some of the motorists also lamented the incessant extortions carried out by security operatives at various checkpoints mounted on sections of the road, saying such has skyrocketed transport fares in the region.

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Narrating her ordeal, a student, who identified herself simply as Gracebell, lamented that she was robbed while traveling from Edo State to Enugu State en route Onitsha on Sunday, adding that she was also molested by roadside commercial vehicle operators along Ilodibe Service Lane by Eastern Academy, Upper Iweka area of Onitsha.

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The passenger who spoke with our correspondent after the incident, claimed that she was robbed of her handbag and phone when she came to board vehicle in one of the registered parks along the area.

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She said, “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.

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“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.

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“By the time I dropped the other bigger bag at the park and came back for the handbag, I could not find the person that snatched it. My handset was in that very bag. I did everything this afternoon, but I was not able to recover the bag and important items inside it.”

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While decrying the loss, she noted that there were reported cases of travellers facing huddles in the area, and further suggested that Anambra, as gateway to the South-East states, should be organised in a way that will not give mischief makers the room to operate.

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Another traveller, Uche Michael, also told our correspondent that many travellers who opted to board vehicles along in the Upper Iweka area of Onitsha face unnecessary headaches because of activities of “some criminal elements, who disguise as roadside commercial transporters.”

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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 dragging me to board their vehicle. When they see you with bag entering into the park, they will run to you to carry the bag and pretending to take it to the boot only for them to disappear with it.

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“The operators of these motor parks will only feign ignorance, thereby keeping the passengers stranded. Sometimes, someone will come into the bus, pretending to be the bus conductor and collect transport fare, but afterward disappears and when the original bus conductor comes, he will not listen to your explanation. This is not good, it has caused many passengers to be stranded after they have paid money to fake conductor,” Michael added.

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An elderly passenger, Ichie Damian Udemmadu, said he has sworn never to patronise some commercial vehicle operators, adding that he took the decision to always join recognised transport companies while traveling through Onitsha after his son fell victim of ‘one-chance transporters,’ after he boarded a commercial vehicle in the Upper Iweka area.

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A staff member of one of the transporters operating a park along the Ilodibe Service Lane by the Eastern Academy end of Upper Iweka, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised, said the menace of some commercial transport operators in the area always go unchecked, urging government intervention.

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However, when our correspondent approached many of the commercial vehicle operators, who did not want their names and that of their company in print, they denied the allegations, adding that they pay certain amount of money to agents for security and to help in loading.

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Responding to the development, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, encouraged members of the public to report specific incidents of misconduct with verifiable details, including the date, time, location, vehicle registration number, identity where available to the Command Control room number on 07039194332, the Public Relations Officer

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on 08039334002 or the CRU 08069262121.

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“Such information will greatly assist ongoing monitoring and disciplinary processes,” he said.

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He added that the Anambra State Police Command remains committed to transparent, accountable, and people-oriented policing and appreciates the continued cooperation and constructive feedback of Anambra residence in strengthening public trust and improving service delivery.

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In another development, one driver was allegedly killed, while many commuters were dispossessed of their belongings along the Nawfia end of the Onitsha–Enugu Expressway in Anambra State.

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Eyewitnesses in the area said the incident, which occurred on Saturday, was the latest incident frequently occurring in recent times.

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“The driver of the commercial truck was attacked and killed after he encountered the armed robbers who had barricaded the road with logs of wood. On seeing the robbers, he made to reverse the vehicle.

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“The armed robbers pursued him, caught him, after which they shot and killed him robbing him of his money and other possessions. His conductor was lucky to flee the scene,” one of the eyewitnesses said.

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The latest attack, captured in a video currently circulating online, showed the body of the victim lying lifeless inside his vehicle, while his conductor and commuters were seen fleeing.

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The voice in the video, who identified himself as a resident, said residents of Nawfia community have repeatedly complained about the persistent activities of armed robbers who allegedly ambush motorists along the expressway.

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He called on security agencies to intensify surveillance along the highway in order to dismantle criminal hideouts in the area.

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A prominent netizen, who did not want to be named for security reasons, also raised the alarm on worsening insecurity on the busy highway, urging the Anambra State Government and security agencies to act before more lives are lost.

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He said, “Residents of Nawfia Community have repeatedly raised the alarm over the persistent activities of armed robbers operating along the Nawfia end of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway.

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“In response to the growing threat, members of the community recently organised a clean-up exercise, clearing overgrown vegetation and removing logs allegedly used by criminals to barricade the highway and ambush unsuspecting motorists.

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“Sadly, these efforts have not deterred the criminals, who continue to operate with alarming boldness.

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Ikenga declined to comment on the development, as well as the viral video.

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