s assaulted by an official of the COVID-19 Task Force in Ojodu Abiodun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, for flouting the lockdown order and refusing to pay a fine of N15,000.
Findings, however, show that the weekend lockdown has been turned into a thriving business venture by those saddled with its enforcement. Findings revealed that the task force officials were taking advantage of some motorists and motorcyclists, who flout the restriction of movement order, and were exploiting them.
Wunmi Kola, who conveys charcoal to Lagos through the Igboora-Lafenwa Road, said he usually bribed his way through the checkpoints with N500. A resident of Abeokuta, Adisa Alayinde, said, “I saw the security personnel collecting money, especially in the evening. It’s very common around the Brewery, Olomore and Ita-Oshin.”
Zainab Adebayo, an indigene of Igboora but resident in Abeokuta, who spoke with our correspondent on the activities of the task officials on the Lafenwa-Rounder-Igboora Road, said they were worse than their colleagues on the Abeokuta-Sango-Lagos Road. Another resident, Yemi Awopeju, narrated her experience when she took a motorcycle from Isale Abetu to the Ewang Estate in Abeokuta during the lockdown. She said the motorcyclist was delayed until he gave N100 to the officials at the Olohunsogo checkpoint before they let him go.
Akibu Tiwalade said, “I observe that the task force officials don’t usually disturb us in the evening. I still pay little to them whenever I am caught, but it is better than working in the morning.” When asked if the command was aware of the alleged activities of its personnel, Oyeyemi said, “There is no way the command will be aware of any act of corruption and will keep quiet over it.
Speaking on the expectation of the command from the people, the PPRO urged residents of the state to help curb unprofessional actions by its men by speaking out. “But, those who are giving too are equally liable, because when the government gives a directive that people should not go out on particular days, I don’t know why it is so difficult for us to obey this simple directive. But, our people like to bend the rules and by so doing, they will be looking for those, who are available for this attitude of corruption, to pass through the checkpoints.”
Dyke said the command usually adjusts the composition of its personnel at the checkpoints regularly to prevent any form of indiscipline. When contacted for his reaction, the Public Relations Officer of TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, urged anyone with “concrete evidence to come out and prove the allegations.”