In what looks like a window of opportunity to extort money from motorists plying Bauchi roads amidst border closure directives by the Bauchi state government to tame the spread of coronavirus, security agents in a collaborative maneuver with youth extort motorists to grant them entry into Bauchi metropolis from neigbouring states.
WikkiTimes reports that Bauchi state has in recent days reverse earlier total lockdown directives but revert to only border closure from neigbouring states in an effort to tame the virus.
Reversing the decision on total lockdown of the state, the State deputy governor, Senator Baba Tela who heads the state’s taskforce on COVID-19 and lassa fever said “Government having observed that no palliative measures have been introduced to cushion the effects of the lockdown decided to shutdown only boundaries with other states as part measures to contain the spread of covid-19.”
Baba Tela while briefing newsmen in Bauchi said that the suspension of the movement of the people followed consultation with security agents and other relevant stakeholders who deliberated that people should be allowed to conduct their business during the day to enable them have means of livelihood.
WikkiTimes gathered that the security operatives under the aieges ‘joint taskforce’ which houses the Police, Military, Paramilitary like Immigration, Civil Defence and Vigilante groups who are manning the boarders of Bauchi with its neighbors are authoritatively making bricks business from commercial and private drivers not on essential services with their vehicles plying the boarders entries with other states.
Our correspondent who visited the Jos-Bauchi boarder at Sabon Gari Narabi observed many vehicles stranded at the security checkpoint, while alternative routes were provided and manned by youths from the host communities in collaboration with some members of the joint taskforce who extort the drivers different amounts money.
Upon collecting money the agents manning the checkpoints lift the blockades to grant motorist entry, an omen that contravenes the directives given by the state government.
WikkiTimes observed that the security agents carryout the extortions using the surrogate youths “who collaboratively work with the joint task force”.
The youth then direct the vehicles to the remote roads through the bush after paying N200, while another group of young men are also stationed inside the bush at broken bridges and culverts assisting the drivers and collecting N100 each for filing the ditches and holes for the smooth passage of the vehicles.
WikkiTimes reports that similar extortions are happening at the Bauchi-Gombe, Kano-Bauchi and Bauchi-Yobe borders were commercial drivers are allegedly paying between N200 to N500 to gain entry into the state.
A driver who pledges anonymity told this medium that “I paid N500 to ply my passengers into the state from Yobe”.
Our correspondent reports that when the issue of non compliance at borders with neigbouring states was raised by journalists during the daily media briefings on covid-19, the State Deputy Governor and Chairman Taskforce Response Committee on Covid-19 Senator Baba Tela, expressed concern on the non compliance.
He warned that defiant drivers will face the wrath of the law, adding “government will not hesitate to take drastic action to sanctioned offenders as part of measures to maintain sanity in the management of the virus.”
Photo: Ishola Micheal
The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Mr Phillip Maku, in company of Brigade Commander 33 Artillery Brigade Bauchi, Brigadier General Michael Durowaiye, representatives of sister security agencies and Bauchi State Task Force on Covid-19, had on Wednesday 8, April visited Bauchi State border with Plateau where they inspected the enforcement of restriction of movement/screening of travelers on essential services at the border.
CP Maku warned all personnel conducting the exercise to be civil and polite but strict in the discharge of their duties.
The warning appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
All efforts to get the response of the security agents on the allegations prove abortive, as calls and text message sent to the Police Public Relations officer, Bauchi State Command, DSP Kamal Datti were neither answered nor returned as at press time.
