A prominent community leader and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Chief Toyin Amuzu, has raised the alarm over the reported extortion of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders, in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Chief Amuzu, a known social critic and former House of Representatives candidate for Abeokuta South, condemned what he described as a systematic exploitation of struggling Nigerians by individuals allegedly empowered by the local government.
He said the extortion not only reflects a lack of empathy but also worsens the economic burden on residents already grappling with hardship.
“This is deeply disturbing and must be thoroughly investigated,” Amuzu said, reacting to reports that an individual identified as Betterlife, alongside others purportedly acting on behalf of the local government, has been collecting levies ranging from ₦7,000 to ₦15,000 from okada operators under the guise of documentation and clearance.
“There is no transparency, standardisation or issuance of official receipts to back up these amounts.
It’s obvious that things are hard for our okada operators and they shouldn’t be overburdened with unnecessary levies and extortion,” he added.
Amuzu also warned against the risk of ethnic tension, stressing that the authorities must act swiftly to prevent unrest.
“We must not allow the actions of a few individuals to undermine the peace and harmony that we have worked so hard to build in our community.”
He called on the Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation and the leadership of Abeokuta South Local Government to investigate the claims and bring an end to what he described as harassment and illegal tolls targeting innocent riders.
“The local government must take responsibility for maintaining peace and order in our community. That includes protecting our okada operators from extortion,” he said.
While urging the motorcycle riders to remain calm and continue their operations lawfully, Amuzu assured them that justice would be served.
He also pledged to continue his social intervention programme aimed at alleviating the suffering of the riders.
“As part of our support, we will activate our free fuel initiative once again to help ease the burden on the riders. We will not sit idly by while our people are being exploited and oppressed,” he vowed.
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