Extortion: Osun Govt Reads Riot Act to Traffic Marshals

The Osun state government has warned Osun Traffic Marshals who are enforcing traffic rules and regulations in the state against extortion, bribery and other acts of malpractices, threatening to deal with any marshal caught in misconduct.

Commissioner for Works and Transport in the state, Engr. Kazeem Salami who gave the warning at the weekend while holding meeting with the traffic marshals, said members of the public are complaining that some of them were extorting the commuters and other road users.

Some of the marshals are in the habit of harassing and extorting the commercial motorcyclists popularly called ‘okada riders’, particularly in Osogbo, the state capital.

According to Salami, some of the marshals are misrepresenting the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola with their misconducts, explaining that they are put on the road to ensure compliance with traffic rules and regulations by the road users and not to extort the commuters.

He maintained that the government would no longer tolerate any misconduct from the marshals, saying that anyone caught in the act would be dealt with seriously.

Salami implored motorists and okada riders to be law abiding by using number plates, crash helmets and not to drive against the traffic, saying that anybody that violates the traffic rules would be fined as approved by Osun State House of Assembly.