Commuter Bus Drivers Protest In Port Harcourt

Thousands of commuters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, southsouth Nigeria, who resumed work and school after public holiday  today were stranded in various parts of the city as commuter bus drivers stayed off the roads to protest against police extortion and brutality.

For a state capital were commercial motorbikes and tricycles have been banned more than two years ago by Governor Chibuike Amaechi following robbery attacks and cult activities in the state, commuters went through hellish experience as they trekked long distances to their destinations.

Mr. Smart Ogbonna, one of the  bus drivers who plies  Mile One Diobu bus stop and the popular ‘ Lagos’ Bus Stop in Port Harcourt Township, who spoke to P.M.NEWS on the reasons for the protest complained about  numerous illegal checkpoints where police collect between N100 to N500  on each bus per trip and at each checkpoint that are about 10 in number.

He said extortion has become so ridiculous that policemen give drivers code numbers at each checkpoint to identify those who paid their tolls as against those who refused to pay.

Those that refuse to pay have their vehicles impounded.

The Rivers State Police Command through its image maker, Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulem, dismissed the allegations of the bus drivers as lies.

He said the police command frowns at extortion and indiscipline among  its officers and men.

He challenged the bus drivers to bring evidence and identities of the policemen who exhort money from them.

Meanwhile, commuters are appealing to the police command to resolve the issues quickly to stop untold hardships on members of the public who do not have cars.

—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt