Katsina CP must hear this

There is no doubt that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase is doing a tremendous job. On assumption of office in April this year, he gave a directive to police officers to dismantle all police “road blocks.” That was a popular move and it was welcomed by the public. Police checkpoints serve one singular […]

There is no doubt that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase is doing a tremendous job. On assumption of office in April this year, he gave a directive to police officers to dismantle all police “road blocks.”
That was a popular move and it was welcomed by the public. Police checkpoints serve one singular purpose in Nigeria: perpetuating corruption in the force.
Now, some eight months down the line, this abominable tradition of policemen extorting money from motorists has refused to go away especially in Katsina State, where motorists are extorted on popular markets days, such  as on Tuesdays (Mashi market day), Wednesdays (Dutsinma market day), Sunday (Charanchi and Mai’adua market days).
The police divisional headquarters in Mashi, Mani, Bindawa, Charanchi, Dutsinama, Mai’adua and Daura are accused of sending out their teams of “accountants” on unlawful collection of money from commercial drivers.
The first time I came across such teams, I asked the driver conveying us whether the money was a friendly tip, and he replied that unless he paid, he would be asked to park his bus and be delayed for the better part of the day and probably be subjected to other indignities .
Upon asking him if he ever asked what the money was meant for or if he has ever reported the matter to one of the divisional police officers in one of the local governments mentioned,  he gave me answers that made me feel as if I was a stranger in my own country.
During the last 10 months, I feel a surge of frustration every time I come across a checkpoint with a policeman pocketing crumpled notes handed to him by motorists.
I used to ask if the police commissioner in Katsina was aware of this and why was he sitting on his hands?
The police personnel are being paid out of public coffers to protect the lives and property of the citizens, not to harass them and extort them
Jafar Adam, Dallaje, Bindawa Local Government Area, Katsina State