Date: 2019-06-19

Ilorin okada riders protest police, KWARTMA extortion A drama ensued in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital this morning as Commercial motorcyclists popularly referred to aOkada rider took to the street to protest what they described as police extortion.

The motorcyclists who were more than one hundred alleged that the police and officers of the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority, KWARTMA usually seize their motorcycles and arrest their members indiscriminately. They also alleged that the officers usually demand between on thousand, five hundred naira to ten thousand naira before releasing their motorcycles.

Speaking on the development, the Executive Officer of KWARTMA, Malam Yekeen Bello, expressed disappointment, saying the police were not on ground at a good time despite his repeated calls to the police. He called for investigation and immediate sanctions against the perpetrators.

In his reaction the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun described the situation as an unfortunate incident, saying that motorcyclists should have made official report to the police before taking to the street. Egbetokun said that he had earlier warned officers under his command not to extort the public as anyone found wanting will be dealt with as it is a criminal offence.

He however encouraged members of the public to report any case of extortion by the police to the command. Egbetokun assured that the Command will investigate once official complaint is received from the union.

As reported by our correspondent, Olarotimi Oshin, the security post of the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority KWATMA, was set ablaze, while the motorcyclists pulled down the gate and started beating up all the people the met at the compound with many sustaining injuries.