Offa and Erinle communities in Kwara State at the weekend frowned at the rate at which securitymen posted to the areas to maintain peace and orderliness as a result of the recent community clash, are extorting money and valuables from the motorists and passengers that ply the road.
The two communities who vowed to wage war against the ugly thrend, appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Sunday Ehindero to call his men to order so as not to cause another clash between the two communities and the security operatives posted to the warring towns.
Consequently, when THISDAY visited the two communities, the commercial bus in which our correspondent was travelling with at the weekend was stopped by the securitymen and forcefully asked the driver to come down and made his routine donation of N100 to them without any complain.
The state governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki two weeks ago announced the ban on the curfew imposed by the goverment at the wake of the communal clashes between the two towns following the peace that has retruned to the ancient towns.
THISDAY reliably gathered that, inspite of the lifting of the curfew in the two affected communities, the anti-riot policemen and the army officers from Sobi barracks, Ilorin, have refused to quit the two towns as they were living fat from the motorists and passengers plying the roads.
It was learnt that, the anti-riot policemen and the army would order the motorists and the passengers to come down on the pretext that they wanted to check their goods and services but at the end of the day, they would compel the motorists and the passengers to part with certain some of token unless they will be disturbed from their journey.
The development according to THISDAY investigations,has forced many of the motorists and the passengers at times to be engaging in a fitscuff and if not checked, it may lead to another war in the area.
But, in a chat with THISDAY in Offa and Erinle respectively at the weekend on the development, Mr. Yinka Oladosu and Mrs. Iyabo Akindepo condemned the action of the anti-riot policemen and the army posted to the affected towns because they have truned themselves as a nuisance on the road and this wasnot good for the peace and development of the areas.
Oladosu and Mrs.Akindepo who aid that, " let me tell tell you, these anti-riot policemen and the army posted to Offa and Erinle communities to maintain peace are now collecting between N20 to N100 depending on how they can bargain with the motorists and the passngers.
They said that, the development has affected the ongoing peace move being put in place by the goverment.
They therefore called on the IGP,Mr. Ehindero to wade into the matter so as to protect the image of the Nigeria Police Force.
Contacted yesterday on the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Marcus said that, he was not aware of such alleged collection of the said toll by the anti-riot policemen posted to Offa and Erinle communities to maintain peace in the areas from the motorist and passengers.
According to him,"We have been saying without numbers that, it is a crime to give policemen money but our people have refused to abide with this warning."
He therefore said that, he would invstigate the matter today (Monday) when i get to the office.
This Day