The Kwara State Traffic Management Authority (KWARTMA) said it has dismissed nine of its personnel and placed five on indefinite suspension over extortion from commercial motorcyclists and motorists in the state. 

The General Manager and Chief Executive of KWARTMA, Alhaji Abdulyekeen Babatunde, revealed this while speaking with our correspondent in Ilorin at the weekend. 

He said the personnel dismissed and those on suspension committed various offences between 2016 to date in different parts of the state capital and in some local government areas.

Babatunde said the management of the authority had put in place a surveillance monitoring the activities of the traffic officers while discharging their duty on the roads to curb extortion.

Babatunde warned the traffic personnel to desist from extortion, especially from commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, and other negative tendencies that would give them a bad image. 

The chief executive officer also disclosed that all the current 200 personnel of the authority had been given appointment letters of pensionable employment and letters of confirmation of appointment by the state government.

He advised the personnel to reciprocate government’s gesture by being dedicated to duty and shun acts inimical to the good intention of the authority at ensuring sanity on roads.

Babatunde further disclosed that the authority impounded 119 motorcycles and six vehicles between January and July in 2017 from motorists who violated traffic laws.