Daily Trust - the online edition

Commercial drivers operating within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the police authority to stop its officers on the road from extorting money from them.

The extortion according to some of the drivers is the reason for the increase in transport fare.

Gabriel Udeku, who plies Suleja road, said he hardly realizes enough money after the day’s job because of the money extorted from him.

"It looks as if we are working for the police because the moment they arrest us, whether we flout the law or not, the police must collect money if not they will take us to their station where the fine would be higher," he added.

He said police officers in mufti sometimes confuse the drivers by standing as passengers and the moment we stop to pick them, they will jump into our buses and ask us to park, saying that we have contravened the law.