CDHR Raises Alarm Over Police Extortion, Demands Removal of Illegal Checkpoints in Delta

Comrade Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen
Chairman, CDHR Delta State 

…. Urges CP Erale to sanction erring officers as tricycle, motorcycle, bus operators protest N200 levies

.... As Chairman of CDHR in Delta State, Comrade Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen describes the alleged extortion as unbearable for commercial transport operators already struggling with rising operational costs.

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called on the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, to immediately dismantle illegal checkpoints across the state and sanction officers found culpable of extorting motorists.

The call followed protests by commercial tricycle, motorcycle and bus operators in Warri, Uvwie and Udu over alleged daily extortion of N200 per driver by some police officers at multiple checkpoints.

Chairman of CDHR in Delta State, Comrade Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, made the demand in a post on his Facebook timeline, describing the alleged extortion as unbearable for commercial transport operators already struggling with rising operational costs.

Agberen, who said he drove around the DSC Expressway to ascertain the situation, alleged that motorists were being compelled to pay N200 at every encounter with the police at different checkpoints.

He noted that between eight and 10 checkpoints were mounted along the roads, a situation he said had compounded the financial burden on commercial transport operators.

“With fuel hike, park tickets, and maintenance cost already killing them, Police extortion is the last straw,” he said.

The CDHR chairman stressed that the police were constitutionally mandated to protect citizens and maintain law and order, not to exploit motorists through illegal collections.

He urged CP Erale to urgently investigate the allegations, remove unauthorised checkpoints and ensure that officers found engaging in extortion were appropriately disciplined.

Agberen warned that failure to address the alleged practice could worsen tensions between law enforcement officers and commercial transport operators, insisting that decisive action was needed to prevent the situation from escalating.

“If this is not stopped now, it will get out of hand,” he warned.

He maintained that motorists should be able to conduct their legitimate businesses without harassment or unlawful financial demands from security personnel.

The CDHR urged the police leadership in Delta State to demonstrate accountability and professionalism by addressing the complaints and ensuring that officers uphold their responsibility to protect the public.

The allegations of extortion have not been independently verified.