What exactly is wrong with the Nigerian Society? What is the solution to this rampant and ever increasing incidence of bribery in the police force? Do the Nigerian Police understand that Corruption is destructive to personal, and governmental structures and capacity?
My experiences I had while travelling along Etim Ekpo – Iwukem Road to Aba and Aba – Ikot Ekpene Road exposed the reality of what is have been hearing and reading about police extortion and exploitation from innocent road users. What I saw, pointed to the fact that CORRUPTION has destroyed the legitimacy (if any) of the security agency.
At every poll along the roads aforementioned, there is a police check point. I believe the reason for this check point is to protect and ensure the security of life and property of the road users as well as checkmate the infiltration of the society by criminals who may want to transport harmful weapons or substances via this route. But, this check point has been turn into EXTORTION POINTS, the drivers plying this roads a made to part with a NON-NEGOTIABLE FEE of N50 at every ‘check point’ manned by the men and women of the Nigerian mobile police force while they are expected to stop their vehicle and come down to settle the HIGHWAY PATROL men who sit comfortably in their duty vehicle, with an amount not less than one hundred Naira. At a particular check point within Aba main town the driver brought out fifty naira and gave it to the police man, to my greatest surprise the police man refuse it demanding for an additional N50. At another point along the Aba – Ikot Ekpene Road – precisely close at Ikot Umoh Essien – my bus driver wanting to deliver the bride, the money fell on the road and he was order to come down and pick the money and deliver it properly into his (the policeman’s) hand. What a Country.
These corrupt officers (fathers and mothers) extort scarce public resources into private pockets, literally undermining the security of the nation, and eroding the social and moral fabric of nations. They no longer stop the vehicle for the proper checks as they case may be; just N50 gives you a visa to drive around legitimately irrespective of whether you are carrying a contraband or not. These men are not doing their duty, instead, they are focused on making money illegally and there is no clear difference between the Nigerian police offices and highway armed robbers – they are all brutal, selfish and extortionist. Will it be possible for Nigeria to effectively tame the scourge of police extortion on our highways?
STOP BRIBERY TODAY!
