Nigeria: Furious Motorcycle Operators, popularly called ‘Okada Riders,’ carried out a huge protest on Wednesday, 22 June, against officers and men of Masaka Police Division, Nasarawa State, regarding alleged extortion.
A police source confirmed the incident and stated the protest was due to the incessant extortion of N5000 by policemen on patrol over useless excuses.
As per the source, some of the policemen have a habit of harassing, intimidating and extorting the okada riders, which gave rise to a protest.
He further added that for any motorcycle seized by police officers on patrol, the owner is obliged to pay a fine of at least five thousand nairas to get it back.
The police officer further complained that the actions of his colleagues were becoming problematic and must be checked to avoid any unexpected breakdown of law and order by the enraged protestors.
When contacted, the DPO (Division Police Officer) of Masaka Police Division, Aaron Kaura, rejected the allegations of extortion put against his men while saying the protest was due to a misunderstanding between the bikers and their executives and also regarding number plate issues.
He further stated that he had handled the protestors, and normality had come back to the region.
One of these protesting motorcyclists, Haruna Sadiku, whined that they suffered so much due to the police officers as sometimes they don’t have any option but to hand over their daily wages to them.
Sadiku stated, “Their attitude towards us is not right. We are just trying to put food on the table for our family members, and it is not every okada rider that is a tout. Unwarranted extortion every day at the end of the long hard day, the take-home is nothing this is so frustrating.”
Moreover, the okada riders, who blockaded the police station, have asked that all motorcycles held should be given back to their owners immediately while threatening that protest will persist if their request is not taken into consideration.
