Urgent Information For Nigeria’s National Security Adviser -By Joe Dauda

Perhaps I’m completely wrong and this is nothing. This could be the result of simple lack of information or faulty assessment, or pure coincidence. But I hereby call the attention of the NSA to what seems to be a disturbing trend. Since I started living in Abuja, I have never received the number of complaints I have received in the past couple of days from apparently law-abiding Nigerian motorists being extorted “at gun point” by VIO officers.

Because of the timing, I have become suspicious.

Is this just an emergency revenue drive by corrupt officers within the ranks of the VIO organization who want to take advantage of this season of transition, or is it something worse?

After getting the latest information just this morning from a Nigerian that I have reason to believe is innocent, I decided that it is better for me to be accused of crying wolf than to keep silent.

What happens is, unfortunately, to the disadvantage of law-abiding motorists. For example, the guy that I spoke with this morning stopped when flagged down, and was then strangely accused of parking at the wrong spot. Of course he was eventually bundled to the nearest VIO office and made to pay N8500, “instead of N25000” according to his accusers.

I am now of the opinion that the NSA should caution the Commander of the VIO to keep a closer eye on his men so that the seeds of discontent I perceive being currently sowed will not assume a dangerous dimension and become the immediate or remote cause for another turmoil within the country, such as the one we witnessed a few years ago.

Who knows how many more people have been treated this way?

And what might be their reasonable decision after being basically robbed by government officials abusing the trust of the government that pays their salaries and mandated them to serve? Some may choose to become unruly and join the ranks of uncooperative road users who endanger themselves and others because of a firm decision never to stop when flagged down by law enforcement officials, no matter the government agency they represent.

I have played my part in raising the alarm, based on the empirical evidence I was opportune to gather. The ball is now in the court of the NSA to ensure that this matter is promptly investigated and nipped in the bud.

When it comes to national security, no threat is irrelevant.