Warri Drivers Allege ₦200 Police Checkpoint Extortion, CDHR Calls for Investigation
By DBS Warri | October 18, 2026
Commercial bus, tricycle and motorcycle operators in Warri, Uvwie and Udu have raised concerns over alleged extortion at police checkpoints, prompting the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Delta State Branch, to call for an investigation.
According to a report published by IBN News on October 17, the operators alleged that some police officers demand ₦200 at checkpoints along their routes.
The complaints have raised concerns about the additional financial pressure facing commercial transport operators, who must already contend with fuel expenses, vehicle maintenance and other operating costs.
The allegations have not been independently verified by DBS Warri, and a response from the Delta State Police Command was not available in the report.
CDHR asks police commissioner to intervene
The Delta State chairman of the CDHR, Comrade Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, reportedly urged the Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, to investigate the complaints and take appropriate action where misconduct is established.
Agberen also called for the removal of illegal checkpoints and urged police personnel deployed on roads to perform their duties professionally and in accordance with the law.
The human rights organisation maintained that policing should focus on protecting residents, preventing crime and maintaining public safety.
Drivers say repeated payments increase operating costs
For commercial drivers, even relatively small payments can become a substantial expense when demanded repeatedly during daily operations.
Drivers who encounter several checkpoints on a single journey may face cumulative costs that affect their earnings and the amount they charge passengers.
However, the precise number of affected drivers, the locations of the alleged checkpoints and the frequency of the reported demands have not been independently established.
The allegations also do not establish that every officer at a checkpoint is involved in misconduct.
Police accountability and public safety
The complaints come as the Delta State Police Command faces public expectations to maintain discipline, professionalism and confidence in law enforcement.
A transparent investigation could help establish whether the reported demands occurred, identify any officers responsible and determine what corrective measures may be necessary.
Residents and transport operators with relevant evidence can help an investigation by documenting specific incidents safely and reporting them through appropriate official channels.
Anyone making a complaint should avoid putting themselves at risk or confronting armed officers.
What should happen next?
The Delta State Police Command’s response will be important in clarifying the allegations and explaining what steps, if any, are being taken to investigate them.
If wrongdoing is established, appropriate disciplinary or legal action should follow. If the claims cannot be substantiated, the findings should also be communicated clearly.
DBS Warri will continue to follow the issue and update readers if the police or other relevant authorities provide an official response.
Source: IBN News, report published October 17, 2026, on commercial drivers’ allegations and the CDHR’s call for police intervention.
