Addressing Military, Police Extortion At Checkpoint Within Bali

 

Sequel to the unending extortion, harassment and intimidation of our innocent masses on roads within Bali Local Government Council, we write to properly inform the Executive Chairman of Bali Local Government Council, Honourable Dauda AbokiDakka, of the daily happenings on almost all the roads of Bali.

 

It's now obvious that the the police and soldiers who are deploys on our road to protect the lives of our people have now turned these check points into mini markets where negotiations takes place. At check points, police and soldiers openly collect bribe from the motorists everyday.

 

Not only collecting bribe, they harass and forcibly extort money from the road users, both commercial and non commercial vehicles, okadar riders and even farmers are not left out.

The annoying part is how very aged farmers are forced to pay the sum of 100 daily when going to farms.

 

In some check points, the police or soldiers will amass like up to 20 vehicles and start using marker, painting those that are able pay, leaving others with no option than to borrow from other road users or they will waste your time by removing your vehicle key.

 

The pictures below serve as tangible evidence where both police and soldiers were busy stopping and collecting money from the innocent ordinary masses at different military and police check points in Garba-Chede. 

 

The extortion is at high level, amassing farmers to pay for using the road before they get access to go to their farm. The poor masses are the victims of such act. This is becoming too much and unacceptable, looking at the economic crisis in the country, with what should our people deal with? The high cost of fuel? Or the high cost of chemicals for farming? If they must have to pay for using government road, then, something is absolutely wrong somewhere.

 

We therefore, appeal to the Executive Chairman of Bali Local Government Council to properly investigate and inquire to ascertain fact in this letter in order to resolve the matter without hesitation.

 

We hope to see immediate changes.

 

Usman Musa Yaro is a Journalist with Rock FM Jalingo.