The Rivers State Government has disbanded all local government and Ministry of Transport taskforces on road decongestion, following allegations of harassment and extortion by officials.
The announcement was made by Collins Onunwo, the state's Commissioner for Transport, in response to growing public outcry, including a viral video showing taskforce officials allegedly harassing and extorting money from a woman.
The incident, which reportedly occurred along Ada George Road in Port Harcourt, involved officials driving against traffic to reach a POS operator, where they allegedly forced the victim to withdraw ₦40,000. The victim captured the event on video, fueling outrage across the state.
Commissioner Onunwo condemned the actions of the taskforce officials and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting residents from such abuses. “The Rivers State Government under Governor Siminialayi Fubara has a human face and will not tolerate any form of harassment or intimidation of residents under the guise of taskforce operations,” he said.
While disbanding the current taskforces, the Commissioner assured the public that a new team would be reconstituted to regulate motorists’ activities at a later date. The move signals a firm stance by the government to restore public trust and ensure accountability in road management operations.
The viral incident has sparked widespread discussions about the conduct of law enforcement and taskforce officials in Rivers State, with residents calling for stricter oversight and transparency in future operations.
