Tipper Drivers Decry Extortion By Policemen

Tipper drivers who journey through Igbe Road, Ikorodu, Lagos State, to offload sand, gravel, granite and others have lamented their pain-stricken experience.
Apart from the deplorable state of long stretch of the road, they said activities of some policemen, who had turned the road into tolling centre, had become worrisome to them.
A sand dealer, who gave her name only as Yemisi, told PUNCH Metro that the policemen were always stationed at Alfa section of the road extorting money from the tipper drivers.
She alleged that each tipper driver was usually made to cough up between N200 and N500 before he could be allowed to leave.
She said, “Those policemen have become a menace on the road. When my driver is giving them money at times, I shed tears because they were using their privileged positions to extort money.
“It is not that we do not like their presence on that road because in the past, it used to be a hotbed of criminal activities. But I expect that they should have pity on us. If we desire to give them anything, it should come from our hearts, not by force.”
A tipper driver, Mr. Sunday James, called on the relevant authorities to caution the policemen.
James said on occasions that he tried to argue with them, they always threatened to impound his vehicle.
“On one of those occasions, my client was waiting for me to deliver his sand. In fact, wasting further time would have discredited me in the eye of the client. I had to part with the N500 they demanded,” he said.
Yet, another driver, who craved anonymity, said as it were, only the relevant authorities could save the situation.
He said, “It is not only on Igbe Road. At Ota Ona Road, linking Ogolonto, the situation is the same. When they see you carrying sand, it is looked as if you are carrying contraband.
“It is time the relevant authorities stepped in to stop the intimidation of our people who are doing legitimate business.”
Our correspondent, who passed through Igbe Road on Wednesday, observed that a police patrol team from Ijede Police Division, was conducting searches on some tippers at Alfa area of the road.
Spokesperson for Lagos Police Command, Ngozi Braide, promised to call back. But as of the time of going to  press, she did not.