The office of the Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIO, Effurun in Delta State has been sealed by the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government, Mr Ramson Onoyake, over alleged extortion of vehicle owners and maltreatment by the officers.
The Uvwie Council Chairman carried out the operation on Monday, following public outcry that a woman being rushed to the hospital had her vehicle detained along with several vehicle owners and tricycle operators.
Onoyake sealed the VIO office on Emore Street, off Airport Road, Effurun and released the keys to the owners of the seized tricycles and vehicles.
Some of the affected tricycle and vehicle owners narrated their ordeals in the hands of the VIOs to the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government, Mr Ramson Onoyake at the VIO office in Effurun.
A woman now receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital was being detained along with her vehicle by agents of Deltá State Transport Management and Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs.
The woman was released and rushed to the hospital.
Several other persons and their vehicles, including tricycles, were detained by the Vehicle Inspection Officers over their inability to parť with monies demanded by the revenue agents.
It was gathered that the sick woman was asked to cough out seventy thousand naira to gain freedom.
Following calls to his office, the Uvwie Council Chairman accompanied by some Council officials stormed the VIO office in Efurun to discover that scores of commercial vehicles had been impounded and their keys seized.
The vehicle and tricycle owners had been allegedly asked to part with some levies.
Some of them narrated their ordeal in the hands of the Vehicle Inspection Officers.
The Uvwie Council Chairman, who interacted with the Inspector, Secretary and some of the officers told them that he had received several complaints about their activities.
He also told the VIOs that Uvwie needs peace for business to thrive, warning that the Local Administration will not tolerate a breakdown of law and order.
Onoyake wondered why the Personnel of the VIO office declined to release the sick woman along with others whose vehicle documents were intact.
