The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Ajo Geoffrey Ordue, has warned police officers against demanding or collecting money from motorists and commercial transport operators during stop-and-search operations.
Ordue said no police officer was authorised to demand, solicit or compel any driver or rider to make payments during stop-and-search or any other lawful police operation.
The warning followed renewed complaints of alleged extortion of commercial drivers and tricycle operators by some police personnel in Calabar and other parts of the state.
The commissioner, represented by the Divisional Police Officer, Atakpa Police Division, CSP Azenda Peter, gave the warning on Saturday during an engagement with major transport stakeholders in Calabar.
He advised drivers and riders not to make such payments, but to promptly report any police officer who demands or solicits money from them.
The Command, however, cautioned that the prohibition of extortion did not exempt motorists and riders from obeying traffic laws and lawful police directives.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the commissioner charged commercial drivers and tricycle operators to comply with applicable road traffic laws.
He said violations would be addressed through established legal and enforcement procedures.
Ordue also reminded police personnel in the state of their duty to maintain professionalism, discipline and integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He said the Command would continue to engage transport stakeholders and other members of the public in addressing legitimate complaints, assuring that credible allegations of police misconduct would receive appropriate attention and be handled in accordance with the law.
The meeting was attended by executive members of the Unified Commercial Drivers Association of Cross River State, led by its State Chairman, Nta Henshaw, and representatives of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, led by the Calabar South/Municipality Chairman, Chief Pastor Ekpenyong Ewa.