Sir: Men of the Nigeria Police Force at Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, now collect levy from farmers and others who take their goods to Adikpo Market to sell but I know it is not legal and that’s why I am bringing same to your attention.

From GRA to Adikpo Market is seven kilometers and every market day, police would put two checkpoints, collect money at both the first and second checkpoints from those coming into the market to sell their goods. 

In some cases, they collect only from commercial motorcyclists who convey these people to the market, and in retaliation, commercial motorcyclists transfer the bill to their passengers to enable them recover what the police took from them.

It is hard to think that police officers will be operating in this manner without the approval of the DPO in charge of them. The DPO of the police station, where the officers mount illegal checkpoints to extort my people, should be called to order.

One of the reasons we see assassinations or murders of police officers in the eastern part of the country is because of police excesses. This growing illegality of killing police officers should not be allowed to be extended to Benue State. That is why the police officers who are extorting peasant farmers and petty traders should be called to order. The extortion is like a war declaration against the people, particularly in these economically difficult times.

My research has shown that several years ago, because of extortion the commercial motorcyclists in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State were experiencing from police, members of the union came together and fought the police. Some officers were killed and at that period, police could not wear their uniform while going to work in order not to be identified as police officers by the commercial motorcyclists in the area. 

For the sake of peace, love, unity and progress, I am calling on the police authority in the state, to quickly look into this complaint and do the needful to prevent the demonstration of anger upon the police by their victims.

Awunah Pius Terwase, human rights activist/public affairs commentator, wrote from Mpape, Abuja.