By Ikenna Orioha
Motorists and cyclist operators in Imo State especially those who ply within Owerri metropolis and the suburbs have lamented extortion on the road by security personnel and members Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO).
Speaking to our reporter on Monday in Owerri, a commercial mini bus driver, Nkem Okereke, regretted that motorists are being forcefully and openly extorted on daily basis within Owerri metropolis and the suburbs by the security personnel and other unidentified touts even after buying the necessary emblems from government.
“It is unfortunate that the level of forceful extortion of commercial bus drivers in Imo by security personnel and government agents is becoming alarming and we called on government to swing into action to reduce or possibly bring this anomaly to halt in order to avoid road mishap. We are law abiding citizens who have endured intimidation and insult from the hands of these people”, Okereke said.
Another commercial bus driver, Paul Okechukwu, asked government to caution security operatives to stop intimidating and extorting motorists particularly commercial vehicles drivers who he added legally go about their normal business.
When also reached, a motorcycle operator who did not disclose his name, “pleaded with government to ban ENTRCO and illegal revenue collection to avoid giving government bad name. We are always inhumanly treated by touts operating in the guise of ENTRACO staff”.