Road users, particularly commercial motorcyclists, have lamented the poor treatment they receive from members of the Nigeria Police Force stationed on roads, alleging that the culture of extortion at checkpoints is not only tarnishing the agency’s credibility but also contributing to Nigeria’s rising rate of road traffic crashes.

Some commuters who spoke with our correspondents noted that certain uniformed officers routinely demand bribes from motorists in exchange for overlooking safety violations, expired documents, and overloaded vehicles.

Speaking in an interview, Ilupeju Mutiu, a commercial motorcyclist who plies the Ejigbo–Osogbo route, narrated how officers mount checkpoints as early as 5:00 a.m. with the sole aim of collecting bribes from road users. He added that he encounters no fewer than four groups of policemen on the route daily.

Mutiu further explained that the officers often remain on the roads until late in the evening, mounting barricades, disrupting the flow of traffic, and hindering their work. According to him, such practices could also lead to road accidents if not properly managed.

In a similar vein, another motorist, Adebisi Taiwo, recounted a comparable experience with police officers on the road and called on the state government to intervene, noting that the activities of the officers continue to disrupt their daily routines and increase their expenses.

Also speaking, Idowu Solomon Idowu, a motorist from Owode in the Ilesa area of the state, lamented that the persistent demand for bribes has made commuting along the route exhausting, leaving residents with little choice but to part with their hard-earned money.

The affected road users, however, called on the state government to take urgent action to curb the menace, describing it as a clog in the wheel of progress of the state.