From TRAMA to TRAUMA: Motorists Decry Harassment, Extortion in Calabar… Threaten Court Action
By: Our REPPORTER
Intro:
As complaints surge over alleged harassment, intimidation, and extortion by various task forces operating within the Calabar metropolis, residents and motorists have expressed their frustrations and called for urgent government intervention.
Investigations by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that there are over 30 task forces operating within Calabar metropolis each enforcing one ticket or the other from 6:00am to 6:00pm everyday including Saturdays and on public holidays. Besides, each of task force is coordinated by top government officials and friends of government.
These coordinators of these Task forces are so entrenched that they have become Lord of the Manor, untouchable and operate government of its own especially when it has to do with revenue for illegal tolls and daily collections.
Sources close to government told our reporter that some of those tolls are illegal but because they manned by some top politicians, government cannot do anything. The source added that at times government see it as their source of revenue since they cannot accommodate everybody who played key role during electioneering.
These Task forces collect daily tolls of between N100 and N2000 depending on the type of vehicle you drive. It was discovered that some of these task force go with security agents made up of Police, Civil Defence and Operation Okwok for easy enforcement.
The prominent and most terrorising of the task force is the Transport Regulatory And Management Agency (TRAMA) team that enforces traffic light rules on the streets. It was further discovered that Operation Okwok, the state security, has been successfully co-opted by this TRAMA team to enable them enforce and apprehend traffic light offender. .If they put a call across in a jiffy Okwok will appear and bundle you into their truck via TRAMA office.
The TRAMA task force has become very notorious and crude in their method of enforcement. Once the you are seen to have beaten traffic light, they TRAMA team, made up of die-hard revenue agents, will pursue you to your grave without caring a hoot about other road users.
Sometimes, they equally violate traffic light rules just to ensure you don't escape payment of fines. The ultimate in their agenda is to impound your vehicle, take you to their office along Governor's Office axis and give you charge sheet, which ranges form N31,000 to N100, 000 depending on their frame of mind for that day.
A visit to their office by our reporter showed that TRAMA office is one hell of a place, where the front desk staff see themselves as demi-god whose sole duty is just to issue the offender with a charge sheet as if you are in Police custody.
One of the victims of traffic light, Emmanuel Akpan,56, who narrated his ordeal, said: "The staff there all form very busy and feel so important that they treat the so-called traffic offenders as common criminals.
"All to they care for is just to play a shot video clip of how you beat traffic and then issue you a slip to go to First Bank and pay whatever fines they deem fit depending on your approach. And after payment there will not issue you revenue receipt. And that has been the bane of motorists in Calabar."
When our reporter visited their office and sought to have a chart with the Director General, Bar Alfred Effiong, the front desk officer said: "Am sorry sir our Oga does not talk to the press. We have a specific instructions not to allow any traffic offender have access to DG.
"Of course, he is busy now. Our work here is to generate revenue to the state government. We did not come to answer questions form journalists. Our Ogas who brought us know what we are doing."
A visit by OUR REPORTER to major roads in the city revealed palpable tension between TRAMA traffic officers, vehicle owners and drivers with many accusing the task force of operating beyond their mandate.
Below are the views of some Calabar residents and road users:
Speaking, John Etim, a commercial driver, who plus Marian Road, said: “Every day na wahala. You can’t drive two poles without one task force stopping you for one reason or the other. Some of them don’t even wear uniforms, yet they’ll collect your keys. We’re tired. If government doesn’t do something soon, we’ll take them to court.”
“The way they embarrass drivers is too much. Sometimes they chase after cars and tricycles, causing accidents. I even saw one dragging a steering wheel with a driver last week. This is not how to maintain order.”
Mrs. Gloria Inyang, Shop Owner (Watt Market).
“They say it’s traffic management, but it has turned into business. Every checkpoint, you must ‘drop something’. Even when your papers are complete, they’ll find another excuse. We want the Governor to reform this system.” according to Okon Effiom, a Keke Rider along WAPI junction.
A legal practitioner, Grace Ogar, said: “The law empowers traffic officers to regulate movement, not to harass citizens or seize vehicles unlawfully. Many of these task forces are not even properly gazetted. Victims should consider legal redress to end this impunity.”
“Sometimes you wonder if these people are trained at all. They don’t communicate properly. They just jump into the road and stop vehicles anyhow. It creates fear, not order.” says Emmanuel Ewa, a student.
"Why can't the task force allow us to drive in peace? It has become my daily prayer point. I have my car items complete and valid. You checked my car's wiper, water, horn, first aid box and lights, and one of my rear brake lights failed to light up, and you are talking about booking me or I find you something. What's really happening in Calabar Municipality? Car owners can't have peace while on the road... Please, I need a solution to this harassment,” states Mrs. Glory C.
“One day, it will stop, how can task force turn to handle road safety's responsibilities? Until someone give them money that will land them somewhere unpleasant, they will never learn. It's embarrassing! It's better they shift away from UNICAL environment,” Idy Clement laments.
“The touting along Marian Road, IBB Way, and Etta Agbor is becoming a menace. I would kindly request that the appropriate authorities should look into it and find ways to curb their excesses," according to Ejeje Agube
“The harassment is getting out of hand. Anybody in the guise of a uniform is just out to extort motorists. TRAMA is really traumatizing road users. One does not even when he beats traffic again in this town.” states Ivara Enya
“These roadblocks are now like tollgate. Instead of checking safety, they are checking who will give them money. The government must intervene; it’s embarrassing,” says Comfort Eyo.
For Justine Agbor, a bus driver, who plies Ekpo Abasi- Marian road, "TRAMA is dealing with us. We are tired. Sometimes we don't drive on the road again till 6:00pm because everyday they bring in another law just to ensure that you don escape fines. Let them make public the laws setting up this agency so that we know the rules.
"We may be forced to challenge their modus operandi just as DELVAN challenges 100 Marian. We are currently consulting with some lawyers for advise and necessary action. This nonsense must stop."
The public outcry keeps growing. While task forces were originally established to enforce traffic discipline and environmental compliance, many residents now view them as instruments of extortion and abuse.
To this end, motorists are calling on the Cross River State Government to urgently review the operations of these groups to restore sanity and public confidence. Some have already hinted at possible legal action if the situation persists.
THE BEAGLE NEWS
