COMMERCIAL motorcyclist operators, on Wednesday, trooped to the streets of Akure, Ondo state capital, protesting against alleged extortion by men of the state police command.
According to a source, the protest was sparked by an accident allegedly caused by policemen on patrol who attempted to collect money from the motorcyclist, who lost control in the process, causing an accident.
The motorcyclist and his two passengers were seriously injured and rushed to a private clinic close to the scene of the incident, along Oda road in Akure.
It was gathered that the policemen fled the scene of the incident immediately the accident occurred
The eyewitness explained that “as one of the policemen stopped the Okada rider for the usual extortion, the motorcyclist suddenly turned back to run away from the policemen, but he fell down with his two passengers.
“The three men sustained serious injuries and this angered most of the Okada riders who mobilised their members to protest against the police officers on patrol.”
The motorcyclists, however, blocked all the roads leading to the popular Alagbaka/Oda/Igbatoro route, and barricaded the road leading to the police headquarters, halting vehicular movement for several hours.
The protesters alleged men of the police command of extorting from them money ranging from N50 to N500, depending on the offence
The situation was however brought under control following the intervention of some senior police officers from the state command, led by Mr Musibau Ajani, who appealed to the protesters, with a promise to treat the injured victims and repair the damaged motorcycle.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Mr Femi Joseph, who confirmed the incident, said the matter would be investigated, saying that the command had treated the injured motorcyclist and the passengers.
He said,” When they commenced the protest, we appealed to them and we have commenced an investigation on the matter. We have promised to take responsibility for the wounded person.
“We have also taken a disciplinary action against the policeman that was alleged to have caused the accident. “
The PPRO appealed to the commercial motorcyclists to be calm and be assured that the command would deal with any officer that engage in any professional misconduct.
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