Calabar residents lament extortion at military check-point
There is palpable anger among members of Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) and Commercial Motor Cycles riders at Etap Ayip axis of Calabar Municipal Area due to the unbecoming actions of soldiers stationed at the Goodluck Jonathan By-pass, opposite Annunciation Catholic Parish who force table water vendors to drop sachet water bag each time they thoroughfare.
Their complain arose from the high cost of production occasioned partly by the removal of fuel subsidy and the 7.5 vat increase for diesel which has negatively impacted their business.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a table water producer narrated his ordeal in the hands of the soldiers who once tortured his truck driver for refusing to stop and drop the bag of water.
On his part, a commercial motor cycle rider by name Kufre Amos said the solders have opened a register where they record the sum of N500 daily collection from every motobyke operator plying the Jonathan By-Pass to Idundu and other parts of Akpabuyo and Akamkpa Local Government Area.
The people who spoke to newsmen yesterday Thursday June, 22nd 2023, appealed to the government to come to their aid by putting a stop to this day-light robbery pepetrated by men of the Nigerian Army.
Efforts by newsmen to get comments from the Public Relations Unit of the Nigeria Army at Eburutu or Akim Army Barracks proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
