A traffic warden and two State Civil Guard Corps personnel have been arrested by the Imo State Police Command over the alleged harassment and extortion of a motorist in Owerri.

A viral video recorded by a car occupant captured the operatives allegedly harassing and extorting a driver over the absence of a driver’s licence.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Henry Okoye, said the three operatives had been identified and arrested.

They were identified as Inspector Chinewe Ejiogu, attached to the Shell Camp Divisional Police Headquarters, and two State Civil Guard Corps personnel, Kelechi Nzediagwu and Onyedikachi Chibuike. They are currently detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

The command condemned their alleged conduct, describing it as unacceptable and contrary to the discipline and integrity expected of law enforcement personnel.

The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, has directed the command’s Complaint Response Unit to investigate the incident.

The police urged the affected motorist to report to the unit and provide relevant information to aid the investigation, adding that appropriate disciplinary action would follow its conclusion.

The Police spokesperson for Imo State Command, Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement.

Okoye said, “The Imo State Police Command is aware of a viral video in which a police traffic warden and two personnel of the State Civil Guard Corps were captured harassing and extorting a motorist allegedly driving without a driver’s licence in Owerri on October 8.

“The Command strongly condemns the conduct depicted in the video, describing it as unacceptable and contrary to the standards of discipline and integrity expected of law enforcement personnel.

“The police officer involved has been identified as Inspector Chinewe Ejiogu, attached to the Shell Camp Divisional Police Headquarters, while the two State Civil Guard Corps personnel have been identified as Mr Kelechi Nzediagwu and Mr Onyedikachi Chibuike. They are currently detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso, psc(+), mnips, has directed the Command’s Complaint Response (CRU) Unit to investigate the incident. The affected motorist is urged to report to the unit and provide relevant information to assist the investigation. Appropriate disciplinary action will follow upon its conclusion.

“The Command reiterates that no traffic violation justifies extortion, harassment, or abuse of office. All personnel have been warned to discharge their duties in accordance with the law and treat members of the public with respect.

“The Command urges members of the public to report incidents of police misconduct through the appropriate channels and assures them that allegations of misconduct will be treated seriously.”

A truck has reportedly crushed a Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) to death opposite Mega Primary School, along Hospital Road, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Residents were seen shouting in a video shared by Akure-based radio station, Crest FM on Friday.

According to eyewitnesses, the officer tried to intercept the truck, which was already in the fast lane, but couldn’t stop it before the incident.

The officer was reportedly trapped beneath the trailer after the truck struck him, leaving residents at the scene in distress.

The video also showed some of the officer’s colleagues panicking as they watched the incident unfold. Residents could be heard shouting while people gathered around the scene.

The circumstances surrounding the incident, including the events that led to the officer’s attempt to stop the truck, were not immediately clear.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has called on the Federal Government to review its minimum wage.

Ajaero maintained that state governments initially presented as unable to afford higher wages are now paying more than the Federal Government.

The ₦70,000 minimum wage in Nigeria became law on July 29, 2024, when President Bola Tinubu signed the National Minimum Wage Act.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, Ajaero said labour accepted the ₦70,000 minimum wage partly because President Bola Tinubu asked them to consider the financial capacity of state governments.

According to him, the President indicated that he could afford a higher amount but raised concerns about what the states could pay.

“Part of the reason we agreed on 70,000, the president said, and I quote, you know, I can afford to pay 150,000, you know, but the sub-nationals, you have to put them into consideration in deciding, you know, this 70,000 Naira minimum wage and we were keyed into it,” Ajaero said.

The NLC president said the negotiations had reached a deadlock over ₦60,000 before direct talks between labour and the President produced the ₦70,000 agreement.

“That was a negotiation between us and the president directly, not the minimum wage committee,” he said.

However, Ajaero said subsequent wage decisions by state governments had called into question the affordability concerns raised during the negotiations.

He cited Imo State as paying ₦104,000, saying some other states were paying ₦100,000, ₦85,000, ₦84,000 and ₦75,000.

“I think the least could be 72 or more. All the states are paying more than the federal government,” he said.

Ajaero questioned why the Federal Government had retained its rate despite the higher amounts he said states were paying.

He argued that the development warranted a fresh assessment of the Federal Government’s position on workers’ pay.

“So I think it’s incumbent on the federal government to go back to the drawing board and find out what is happening,” he said.