Police Arrest Nine in Delta Crackdown On Illegal Highway Roadblocks, Extortion

The Delta State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on illegal roadblocks and unauthorized revenue collection on highways across the state, arresting nine suspects in an operation aimed at restoring safety and free movement on major roads.

The command said the exercise, which began on Friday, July 24, followed the Federal Government’s directive to eliminate extortion and other criminal activities along Nigerian highways.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said officers targeted notorious locations where illegal toll collection and roadblocks had disrupted traffic and exposed motorists to harassment.

According to him, the operation led to the arrest of nine suspects at strategic points, including the Head Bridge axis linking Delta and Anambra states and the Benin–Asaba Expressway near Agbor.

Edafe disclosed that the suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining the operation across the state, noting that similar enforcement exercises would be carried out in other areas to ensure motorists and commuters travel without intimidation or illegal levies.

The police also urged members of the public to cooperate with security personnel and support efforts to restore law and order on Delta State highways.