Police have turned us to ATM – Okada riders

The Network on Police Reform in Nigeria has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and the National Human Rights Commission over the alleged increase in the number of complaints over harassment, extortion and killing of commercial motorcycle operators’ refusal to offer bribe.
The spokesman for NOPRIN, Okechukwu Nwanguman, noted that such harassments and complaints were rampant in every state, where the state government has been coming down hard on commercial bike riders.
Nwanguma said that NOPRIN had just sent a communication to the Divisional Police Officer, Umuebulu, Rivers State concerning the information it received that one Uko from Ikot Antuk in Abak lga, Akwa Ibom State, a commercial motorcyclist with three kids, who resides and operates in Umuebulu, and one Christopher, a school bus driver with Blessed Child International School, Umuebulu, were shot by police officers attached to Umuebulu Police Station about 8pm on February 27, 2014.
He said: “We are told that police opened fire when the Okada riders resisted attempts by the police to arrest their member for refusing to offer bribe.
“Mr. Christopher was said to have later died in the hospital.
“Okada riders in Umuebulu are said to be restive over daily demand of N50 bribe from them by the police.
“Many other Okada riders who attempted to protest the Police shooting of their members were said to have been arrested and currently detained at Umuebulu police station in detention.
“We are informed that harassment and extortion of Okada riders by police officers in Umuebulu is routine.
“Police give them numbers each day to identify those who have made their compulsory daily ‘contribution’.”
The DPO replied NOPRIN: “It is a pity that people talk about police as if it is an abomination to be a police officer.
“Anyway, thanks for giving the full name of the Okada man.
“God bless you.
“My dear, the driver is alive.
“The story was wrong.
“My men were not there when the riot started.
“The whole thing was caused by a serious motor accident between the bus man and the Okada rider.
“If you want me to speak, seek permission from my Commissioner please.”
NOPRIN noted that the situation was also not too different in Anambra State, where a policeman known as Chijioke, attached to Habo Police Post, Atani Road, killed a 28-year-old Anayo Opara by lifting him up and hitting his head on the ground at the police station.
The young man became instantly paralysed and died the next day as no hospital in Onitsha could handle his case.
The incident happened on December 6, 2013.
Opara went to the police station to ask for the bail of his elder brother, Chizoba Opara, 32, who was arrested and detained the day before by the policeman because his motorbike had no papers.
The Investigating Police Officer demanded N30,000, which Anayo’s wife and Chizoba said they did not have.
After pleading with the IPO to no avail, Anayo left the counter, uttering some grudging words.
Feeling that Anayo had called his bluff, the IPO went after him, pulled him back from behind by the belt, lifted him up and hit his head on the ground.
The killer policeman was arrested and – as at the last time NOPRIN spoke with the Anambra State Police PRO, Emeka Chukwuemeka – detained at Police Headquarters awaiting orderly room trial.
In Lagos State, commercial bike operators have accused the police of turning them into automated teller machines.
Members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcyclists and Riders Association, Unity Estate branch, Idimu, were reported to have resisted attempts by the policemen posted to the area to impound their motorcycles over their refusal to give them money, which they frequently demand from them.
They have called on the Lagos state Government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, to come to their rescue as men of the Rapid Response Squad and Operation Attack of the State Police Command extort money from them on daily basis.
Nwanguma said: “NOPRIN calls on the IGP and the NHRC to investigate these cases and ensure that the police officers involved in or condoning corrupt practices, killing and abuses are brought to book.
“The IGP should make it clear that such abuses and misconduct will not be tolerated in the Nigeria Police.
“Government must ensure proper funding and budgetary allocation to the police to discourage resort to extortion and associated abuses as means of augmenting their poor pay and generating funds for operations.”