Fake WAI official apprehended in Edo

AKHERE Godwin, Benin

A man claiming to be a member of the Edo War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade, Mr. Aiyegbemn Sunday, was at the weekend arrested at Ugbowo in Benin city over allegations that he demanded the sum of thirty-five thousand Naira bribe in order to effect release of a motor vehicle he had impounded.

The incident which drew the ire of the WAI commander in the state, Mr David Olukoga, came to light when the man whose vehicle was impounded reported to the Ministry of Transport, only for officials to get to the location and to find Aiyegbemn Sunday at work extorting money from other unsuspecting ‎motorists.

Reacting to the development, Olukoga confirmed reports that many of the uniformed men and officers parading major streets of Benin City, the Edo state capital, are fake.

Olukoga also advised members of the public to be watchful of youths in assorted uniforms, claiming to be task force officers in order not to fall victim.

Olukoga who said his office is daily inundated with complaints from the general public that some of the WAI officers assigned to control traffic and stop street trading were extorting money from them, insisted that many were not from his organization.

Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Transport, Francisca Iyogan, who held brief for Olukoga said that the culprits in question are not of the WAI task force or agents and should not be extorting money from the public.

‎She explained that it was due to the illegal activities of the fake officers, that the organization was recalled by the State Government, ‘so that they can be properly trained by a Committee which will restructure and re-organise them for better service delivery.’