Some motorists and motorcyclists in Ekiti State have expressed displeasure with the mode of operation of the officers of the Traffic Management Agency, popularly known as “Dagrin” alleging them of corrupt practices and high-handedness.
Those who spoke with Journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state capital alleged that the officers have continued to extort motorists and treat them with disdain hence they called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji to overhaul the agency and call the affected officers to order.
In a separate interview, the affected motorists identified the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium Road via Okesa Market which had just been converted to one way due to incessant accident as a major spot used by the officers to extort motorists especially strangers.
It was alleged that there was no conspicuous sign or inscription to notify motorists that the road had been converted to one way except for a very small plank which was placed on the pole of a damaged streetlight in the area.
It was also gathered that sometimes the officers would deliberately remove the plank from the damaged streetlight so as to enable them get at motorists at all cost.
Narrating his ordeal, a cleric, pastor Kunle Emmanuel affirmed that he came into Ekiti from Rivers State and was not aware that the road had been converted to one way until he saw some officers who jumped into his car and later collected five thousand from him.
Pastor Emmanuel noted that as at the time he plied the road, there was nothing to inform him about the fact that the road had been converted to one way.
Another victim who said he came to Ekiti from Abuja noted that he was arrested at Stadium area for taking a wrong path and he was asked to pay money or they take him to their office where he would pay more.
He said instead of the officers to correct him, they arrested him and collected money on the spot, a situation he described as unprofessional.
An artisan who operates in the area simply known as Topman, confirmed the allegations of the motorists and promised to testify against the officers if need be.
He confirmed to Journalists that the officers had turned the stadium road to means of extorting unsuspecting members of the public.
Topman confirmed that the road was converted last year to one way due to several accidents recorded but many motorists were not aware especially strangers because there was no road signs.
Topman added that the traffic officers have been taken advantage of the situation to get money from motorists adding that he had challenged them on many occasions.
The artisan said that most times, the officers would remove the small plank used as sign so as to catch innocent persons and make money from them.
One of the victims of the unprofessional attitude of the officers who is a senior staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Mr Kolawole Ogunkande alleged that he was driving on his right part when an officer suddenly jumped into his vehicle and accused him of commiting an offence.
He said:”I was driving on my right part and there was a vehicle in front of me which the driver was buying a phone charger, that made me slowed down but unfortunately, I saw this officer who jumped into my car.
I requested for evidence that I committed an offence he said there is a CCTV camera in their office but on getting to their office I was asked to pay twenty thousand naira without any thing to confirm that he committed the offence.
Even their head whom I approached lacked good human relation as he failed to show any understanding.
I wasn’t given fair hearing, no evidence of offence, infact the officers treated me as if I was a criminal, though I protested but nothing was done.
Government must act fast and call this people to order, they are just living fat on hard earned resources of members of the public, they have defeated the purpose of setting up the agency, government should employ competent hands to run the agency.
Efforts to speak with the leadership of the agency was unsuccessful as those in charge are civil servants who could not be heard.
Governor Kayode Fayemi had earlier relieved those in charge before the expiration of his tenure and the incumbent is yet to appoint new heads.