A Port Harcourt resident identified as Bekee Anyalewechi has accused Police Officers attached to the Kala Police Division of extortion.
The man in a post on Facebook said he boarded a commercial tricycle when the officers stationed at Arcania junction in PH stopped them and demanded the rider paid the sum of N500 or risk his trircycle being seized as they have been ordered by the governor to do so.
His post reads
Attn
IGP, Nigeria Police Force
His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara
CP, Rivers State Police Command
DPO, Rumueprikom Police Station
I was aboard a commercial motorcycle (Keke) at about 1.00pm today when upon getting at the Acania Junction, along Ada George, Port Harcourt, a Police Team flagged us down. The officer who flagged us down demanded N500 from the rider who complained that he had paid an earlier Police Team N500 at that same spot earlier today. But the policeman, who claimed they were the Surveillance Team from the Rumueprikom Division(otherwise known as Kala Police Station), said that Gov. Sim Fubara had directed the arrest and prosecution of commercial motorcyclists found on Port Harcourt Streets. But that if the rider “cooperated” they’d let him go; that they were on “Chop-I-Chop” duty.
It was then I asked him when the Rivers State Governor gave the anti-keke order. I asked him to let the rider proceed on his business and I was going to confirm his claims. He became furious and threatened to “deal” with me. Of course, I dared him. The keke rider grudgingly gave him N500 and drove off. He complained that that was the 3rd time TODAY, alone, armed policemen were robbing him of huge amount of money.
This Team at the Acania Junction had all their Service Numbers covered as well as their names. They use a Sienna Car which front and back Plate Numbers have been removed. The very high cost of fuel is enough to trigger public protest but for armed policemen to be robbing keke riders may just be the tinder. A stitch in time saves nine.
Urgent action needed.
