Oyo Crop Dealers Accuses Ogun Police Of Extortion, Say Pepper, Tomato, Not Contraband

 

Transporters and Crop dealers in Ibarapa area of Oyo State have protested against the alleged extortion by the police officers from the Ogun State Command.

The protesters under the agies of The Ilupeju Root and Fruit Crop Growers and Dealers Association of Nigeria, had accused the police officers of extorting the dealers and drivers conveying their fruits and crops at the various checkpoint on the Ogun State segment of Abeokuta-Igboora road.

Chairman of the Igangan Chapter of the Association, Comrade Mose Olugbami Adewole, in a Save-Our-Soul Letter obtained by NEWSREPORTER, described the level of extortion as unbearable.

Adewole explained that the policemen will collect between N2,000 and N5,000 on each checkpoint between Oyan Dam point to Rounder area of Abeokuta.

For instance, He said each of the two checkpoints at Rounder area usually forcefully demand the sum of N5,000 per vehicle, especially those that convey pepper and tomatoes.

“Our patience is currently running out, as our members are being subjected to inhumane treatment and extortions of high magnitude by the policemen from Ogun State on daily basis, demanding for arbitrary money ranging from N2,000 to N5,000 per vehicle.

“Imagine when our vehicles left for as far as Iwere-Ile, Iganna, and other community in Oke Ogun and Ibarapa, we do spend little or nothing on the road, as many policemen on the road do not always disturb us only to get to Ogun state along Abeokuta-Igboora and we are being extorted by the policemen.

“they extort us as if pepper and tomato are contraband items or maybe the government has banned them because there is no justifiable reasons for such cruel extortion by the Ogun police”, Adewole concluded.

Adewole, however, called on the Federal Government, Ogun State Government and Ogun State Police command, to quickly intervene before the matter escalate and possibly led to shortage of pepper supply in the market.

Other leaders of the Association who signed the letter include Igangan Secretary, Wosilat Olayemi, Adekunle Felicial, Tapa Leaders, Comrade Azeez Eyinade, Alhaja Afusat, Mr Johnson Adegbile, Igboora leaders include (Chief Azeez oladunjoye (Chairman), Mr Ganiu Balogun.