Aka Ikenga, the Igbo think tank and arm of Ohanaeze, has sent an SOS to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State over what it called official kidnapping and extortion of motorists passing through his domain.

In a letter signed dated February 12, 2014 and signed by Aka Ikenga President, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, the group lamented that all efforts made to end the menace in the state have roved abortive. “Enough is enough!” Aka Ikenga said, urging Oshiomhole to “make Edo State a friendly state.”

The letter reads: “We, in Aka Ikenga, have noted with dismay the return of the hatchet men and women on the Benin Ring Road who disappeared from the Federal Roads in Edo State after we petitioned the inspector General of Police and copied the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the Local Government Chairman involved.

“Today, the Local Government men have come back to the federal roads around Benin City to demand money from travellers whose only crime is that they are passing through the Federal highway in Edo State. The Modus Operandi of these extortionists who claim to have the backing of the Governor and the (Madam) Chairman of the Local Government involved is to block the road with all kinds of dangerous materials. Then, when the motorist has stopped, he is asked to produce all kinds of licences (many unheard of) before he will be allowed to continue on his journey! The motorist will be detained with impunity by the armed men and the brazen demand is no different from the one done by kidnappers in the road. What puzzles every road user on that road is the amount of raw cash extorted by the uniformed Government staff who promptly stuff any money they recover from the hapless motorists in their pockets!

“We are bringing this to the notice of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and the Madam Chairman to pull out their henchmen from the Federal roads and go back to the city of Benin! Enough is enough! Make Edo State a friendly state!!”

•Photo shows Governor Oshiomhole.

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