ROAD users, particularly motorists and the ubiquitous commercial motorcycle operattors popularly known as Okada, are groaning in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State under the unbearable extortion by Vehicle Inspector Officers (VIOs).This is happening in spite of the anti-corruption posturing of President Muhamadu Buhari’s administration.
Obudu is largely an agrarian rural area, ravaged by mass poverty. Extorting them by the VIO, further compounds the economic woes of the people.
Local sources say VIOs operating in the local government area are turning it into their cash cow. Findings however, revealed that they always dressed in their orange colored vests and white upon black uniforms issue a handmade pass to the road users upon payment of the stipulated fee as the ‘pass’ for one day.
Our undercover reporter who posed as an Okada operator, was stopped along with others. The VIOs demanded for their ‘pass’ which they feigned ignorance of only to be asked to clear aside and “provide particulars for the bike and driver’s license” which after about twenty minutes of a planned argument by the duo led to another directive from the IPO who beckoned on another colleague and said “book this bike make them go bank go put the money there.”
They were later allowed to go through upon payment of 50 Naira following pleas from the ‘passenger’ that he was going on an official assignment with the communication showing that 5 of the 6 members of the team may hail from Obudu local government area as they spoke the Bette language fluently.
