Two police formations at war over extortion at ports

It was a tale of two cities when the Lagos State Police Command is embroiled in a controversy with a unit under it, the port police command over which engages in extortion of truck drivers at Lagos ports.

The truckers have recently gone on rampage over what they regarded as incessant extortion of the police at the port.

They have accused the police of collection between N35,000 and N40,000 from each trucker to enable him have access to the port.

The agitated truck drivers, who went unleashed their anger on the police by destroying some of their properties, complaint of the unabated harassment.

But the Port Police Command accused the Lagos State Command of being behind the extortion of truck drivers at the Apapa corridor.

The port police therefore refuted allegation trailing its officers that they allegedly contribute to the gridlock in Apapa by collecting bribe of N35,000 to allow truck drivers drive against traffic (one way) in order to access the port.

Commissioner of Police in charge of Western Ports, Celestine Okoye while speaking with Journalists in argued that most of the officers perpetrating the act are not under his command.

He also said that the command is sharing many areas in Apapa with the Lagos state Command of the Police.

Truck drivers who spoke with Journalists had alleged that some Police officers usually stationed around Sunrise and Westminster area of Apapa collect between N35,000 and N40,000 in order to allow some trucks drive against traffic.

Okoye however lamented that whenever there is a face-off between the truckers and the Lagos State Police Command; officers within his jurisdiction, especially at Tin Can Island Port are attacked for an offence they did not commit.

”We have a lot of challenges, most times; the areas we operate are not our jurisdiction. I know you will assume that all the areas belong to us.

“Areas like Burma Road and other adjoining roads in Apapa are under Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Police. Our jurisdiction ends at the port gate. But sometimes we extend our works beyond there. This is for us to create sanity within the port community”

“All other places are under Lagos State Command. These places where Mr. Biggs is, Burma Road junction etc, they are for Lagos State Command, but people accuse port police wrongly,thinking they are the ones in charge of these areas, without knowing that it is not we, but Lagos police command”

Okoye appealed to authorities to come to their aid by extending the operational areas within the port community. He noted that this would help his men define their job, know areas of limitations, also make their job easier while helping them to function very well to the expectations of the stakeholders in the maritime industry.

”How can something happen in Trinity and they are coming up to Tin Can to destroy things, saying it is Port Police when we know nothing about it?”

”The chairs, tables, and canopies my officers were using to control traffic into the port were all destroyed by these people (truckers). But when I was told, I told them to calm down. Most of these places belong to Lagos State Police Command not Port Police Command not us. But as far as the people are concerned, it is port police.”

Exonerating the port police of the various allegations surrounding the collection of toll gate fees, issuance of tickets and the allegation of extortion of truckers at the ports, the CP disassociated his officers and men from such, saying, they know nothing about such illegal activities going on at the ports.

”There was even a false report sometime that we are collecting monies ranging from N25,000 to N30,000 from each truck drivers. That person reported that we are making over N2 million on daily basis from these collections. And I said, if I am making such amount as they claimed within two months, I would have become big man and may have decided to resign”,he declared jokingly.