In a resolution passed on Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate called upon the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to take immediate action and direct police personnel to cease all forms of extortion, intimidation, and harassment targeting motorists and commuters on highways across the country.
The Senate’s decision came as a response to a motion titled “Urgent Need to Halt Extortion, Intimidation, and Harassment of Motorists and Commuters by the Police on Public Roads,” which was introduced during the plenary session. The motion was sponsored by Senator Onyekachi Peter, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Ebonyi State.
Senator Peter, while presenting his case, highlighted the primary responsibility of police personnel to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and movement on highways. He cited Section 49, Subsection 1 of the Police Act, 2020, which grants the police the authority to conduct stop and search operations. Subsection 2, he added, allows them to search and detain individuals or vehicles based on reasonable grounds for suspicion.
Expressing his concern, Senator Peter lamented that some police officers had abused their authority by resorting to acts of extortion, intimidation, and harassment against motorists. He argued that the continuous mistreatment experienced by ordinary Nigerians at the hands of these security agents warranted immediate action.
Supporting Senator Peter’s motion, Senator Elisa Abbo of the APC representing Adamawa State noted that the issue of extortion was not limited to the Nigerian Police Force alone but extended to other security agencies in uniform. He called for comprehensive police reform, emphasizing the need for the adoption of modern security measures such as the utilization of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to monitor and protect Nigerians on the highways effectively.
Adding to the debate, Senator David Jimkuta, also from the APC representing Taraba State, strongly condemned the barbaric behavior of some police personnel on the highways. He called for the establishment of a panel of inquiry to investigate a recent case of a commuter being killed by a police officer, urging severe disciplinary measures for the perpetrator. Senator Jimkuta stressed the importance of not allowing such incidents to be swept under the carpet.
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra State under the platform of the Labour Party (LP), highlighted the necessity of focusing on the punishment of officers involved in the dehumanization of commuters on highways. He proposed the summary dismissal of such officers as a deterrent against future misconduct.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, also from the LP representing Abia State, expressed his dismay at the continuous dehumanization of Nigerians by police personnel at various checkpoints, particularly in the South-East region. He described how individuals, including pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and the sick, were subjected to unnecessary physical exertion, even in adverse weather conditions, by the police.
Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jubril, called for a thorough investigation into the dehumanization of Nigerians on highways. The Senate, in its collective resolution, further demanded the training and retraining of police personnel to ensure the exercise of their duties with civility towards the Nigerian populace. Additionally, the Inspector-General of Police was urged to establish a panel to investigate the recent incident of a commuter being killed, with the expectation that a report of the investigation would be submitted to the Senate through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
This call by the Senate reflects the growing concern among lawmakers regarding the need to address the misconduct and mistreatment experienced by motorists and commuters at the hands of some police officers. The hope is that swift action will be taken to rectify
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