Police extortion: PCRC urges NURTW to rise against challenge in Imo

The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has urged the National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW) to rise against the menace of police extortion in Imo.
This is contained in an open letter to the NURTW signed by Chairman of the PCRC in Imo, Mr
Chima Chukwunyere, and made available to newsmen in Owerri, on Friday.

C- Advocate reports that the letter captioned “The Continous Defiling of Ethics of The
Profession” was copied to the Imo Commissioner of Police, the Director DSS in Imo, and the
Commander 34 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Obinze, in Owerri.
Chukwunyere called on the NURTW and all motorists in the state to resist the extortion of
youths by some security agents on major highways.

” I wish to draw the attention of your office and other transport unions in the state to the
continuous defilement of the ethics of your profession by the security agents in Imo state.
“ This act is peculiar to the Police alone as other security agents especially from the Joint Task
Force are also culpable “, he said.

Chukwunyere disclosed that his attention has been drawn by hoteliers in the state of
complaints by their guests about the treatment meted on them by security agents in the
state, a situation which has resulted in decline of patronage.

He further reminded the NURTW about the recent warnings by the Inspector General of Police
to security agencies in the country against intimidation of fellow citizens by way of collecting and
accessing their personal mobile phones.

He said that the government perceived these actions of the security agents as not only illegal
but also a “broad day robbery” in government uniforms “ Some of them forcefully paid between N200,000 and N300,000 with a threat that if they refuse to pay, they would be tagged members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra.

“ The PCRC vehemently condemns the manner and idea of security agencies on
patrol and road blocks forcing youths to come down from vehicles and asking drivers to
leave with their vehicles in order for them to extort passengers.

C- Advocate calls on drivers or road users who experience extortion to stop immediately, resist
the security agencies and call the Police Emergency Security number 08034773600, or call the
police Spokesperson on 08148024755.
The Rights to Freedom of Movement and Expression are Fundamental and enshrined in the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and each citizen must defend his rights.