Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Delta State Police Command has launched a statewide enforcement operation to dismantle illegal roadblocks and curb unauthorised revenue collection along highways, in strict compliance with the Federal Government directive to rid Nigerian roads of extortion and criminal activities. The exercise, which commenced on Friday, July 24, 2026, targeted notorious points where illegal tolls and roadblocks have disrupted free movement and endangered motorists. During the operation, nine suspects were arrested at strategic locations including the Head Bridge axis, the boundary between Delta and Anambra States, and the Benin–Asaba Expressway by Agbor.
The crackdown follows growing public outcry over the proliferation of illegal checkpoints and the harassment of motorists by individuals and groups demanding unauthorised payments across the state's highways. Motorists and commuters have for years complained of multiple extortion points along the Benin–Asaba Expressway, a major artery linking the South-South to the South-East and South-West regions of Nigeria. The Federal Government had earlier banned the use of roadblocks for tax and levy collection nationwide, reducing harassment of motorists and addressing widespread public complaints about illegal taxation practices. The Delta State Police Command said the enforcement operation was a direct response to that directive.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, stated that all nine suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations. The police spokesperson reiterated the command's commitment to restoring sanity and safety to highways across the state, assuring that similar enforcement exercises would be replicated in other parts of Delta to ensure that motorists and commuters travel without harassment or illegal levies. He urged members of the public to cooperate with law enforcement officers accordingly.
The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command's resolve to sustain the clampdown on illegal roadblocks, describing the activities of those involved as economic sabotage. The police commissioner warned that the command would not tolerate any form of extortion or harassment of motorists, adding that those arrested would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. The enforcement exercise also aligns with the Federal Government's broader policy reforms, including the recent abolition of the Federal Road Safety Corps' patrol on federal highways to reduce harassment of motorists. The policy aims to prevent delays, extortion, and harassment of motorists, and to enhance security and boost economic activities across the country.
The Delta State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all highways in the state remain free from illegal activities, and that members of the public can travel without fear of harassment or extortion. The command has urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support the ongoing enforcement efforts. As the operation continues, motorists and commuters have expressed relief at the development, with many calling for the enforcement to be sustained across the state.
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