Alleged Extortion of Speed Boats, Jetty Owners: Group Appeals to Okowa, Police for Urgent Intervention

By Joseph Ibata

A group of top ex-militant Leaders have issued a strong warning to those harassing the peace loving people of Delta State to desist from it forthwith in order to avoid breakdown of law and order.

This is following the alarm raised by owners of Speed Boats and Jetty Owners at Ogbe-Ijoh Market that some persons allegedly disguising as Delta State Taskforce, currently extorts from them, over N10, 000 daily as tax and dues

The Leaders under the umbrella of Movement for the Actualization of the Dreams of Niger Deltans (MADND) also called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to urgently address the extortion issue and put a stop to it before it degenerates into crisis.

They stated that the warning became necessary following the incessant harassment by some miscreants who allegedly tagged themselves Marine Transportation Task force with forceful extortion of over 10, 000 to 20, 000 naira on daily basis.

The statement by the group signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Josiah Oyakonghan Oyimi (aka Commander Oyimi) reads; “It is disheartened to see our people suffer in the hands of these so called task force who claimed to have been appointed by the State government. We want to state emphatically that if these issues are not urgently resolved, may lead to breakdown of law and order”.

The Ex-militant leaders however appealed to the State Commissioner of Police to also wade into the issue to restore peace in the area.