30th August, 2010
The Nigeria Police has banned checkpoints across the country following several fatal accidents caused by the checkpoints mounted by the police.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the directive to that effect was given over the weekend by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, who ordered that police commissioners in all the 36 states of the federation must implement the order immediately.
In response to the directive, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, went on air to announce the directive, ordering all policemen in his command to leave the checkpoints immediately.
A police source in Lagos told P.M.NEWS under confidentiality that all area commands and divisional police officers have been directed to ensure that the order is carried out at all their duty posts.
As at this morning, P.M.NEWS discovered that the most checkpoints often mounted early in the morning to extort money from motorists in Lagos had disappeared.
Only traffic wardens and LASTMA officials were seen controlling traffic.
There was a multiple accident at Isheri area of Lagos State where over 30 people were burnt to death at police checkpoint.
—Jide Osokoya