A Thin Line Between Enforcement, Extortion, and Robbery - The Harassment of Private Vehicle Owners in Bwari Area Council, Abuja

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), particularly in Bwari Area Council, an unsettling pattern has emerged involving alleged task forces enforcing commercially owned vehicle registration laws under questionable circumstances. Private vehicle owners are being stopped and coerced into paying for local government documents that either do not apply to them or that they are entirely unaware of. These actions are not only exploitative but bear a striking resemblance to a robbery experience, as citizens are compelled to part with their money under duress, often to task force personnel. I write this to explore the thin line between legitimate law enforcement and outright extortion, exposing how government officials claiming to be from the Bwari Area Council, and other parts of the FCT exploit innocent car owners under the pretence of enforcing commercial vehicle regulations.

The crux of the exploitation revolves around the enforcement of Local Government Area (LGA) vehicle registration requirements, which are typically mandated for commercial vehicles and company owned vehicles operating within certain jurisdictions. However, alleged task forces in Bwari Area Council have been targeting private vehicle owners - with vehicles having up to three rows of seats - demanding they produce LGA registration documents that are not legally applicable to their vehicles. Even when drivers present valid private ownership registration papers, they are often harassed and coerced into paying for these unnecessary documents. Failure to comply lead to further intimidating acts such as impounding the vehicles.

The enforcement tactics are aggressive and intimidating. Some vehicle owners report being surrounded by multiple officers, and pressured to pay cash or make bank transfers to private accounts. In some cases, receipts are issued, but the legitimacy of these receipts remains questionable. This form of enforcement not only lacks transparency but also operates without due process, turning what should be a routine check into a fear inducing encounter.

At its core, the behaviour of these so called task forces mirrors that of common criminals, extorting money from citizens under the guise of enforcing the law. Officials (most of whom seem to be under the influence of substances) demanding money from vehicle owners on public roads, particularly for fees that are either misrepresented or non existent, is hardly indistinguishable from armed robbery. The thin line between legitimate enforcement and extortion is blurred further when these alleged officials fail to provide clear identification, documented evidence of violations, or official government payment channels.

Moreover, the use of force to intimidate citizens not only contravenes the principles of civility expected in law enforcement but also erodes public trust in government institutions. When citizens are unable to distinguish between official task forces and criminal elements, the sanctity of the law is undermined, fostering fear and resentment against legitimate government authorities.

I think rather than resorting to aggressive and unlawful enforcement practices, Bwari Area Council and others in the FCT should consider implementing the following measures:

1. Start by educating the task force, if truly identified as such, about the laws they are out to enforce as many of them seem to be uneducated and even lack the knowledge what they are out to uphold. In addition, they should be well trained on how to get compliance in a civil manner.
2. Educate vehicle owners about the specific area council      registration requirements, clearly distinguishing between commercial and private vehicle obligations, including vehicle type classification. Information should be disseminated through multiple channels, including radio, social media, door-to-door (just the way court orders are distributed – a topic for another day), and during vehicle registration and renewal processes. They can also leverage car dealers and auto mechanics for sensitizing customers coming to make purchases and vehicle repairs. Additionally, implement electronic payment systems where receipts are sent via SMS and email with QR codes for verification, ensuring transparency and traceability.
3. Develop and enforce a standardized procedure for handling vehicle registration checks, including proper identification for all officials, issuance of official government receipts, and clear guidelines on applicable fees. Payments should be strictly electronic, with electronic receipts sent directly to the phone numbers and email addresses of vehicle owners, complete with QR codes for instant verification.
4. Incorporate relevant LGA vehicle registration requirements at vehicle paper renewal points, ensuring that vehicle owners are informed of any changes to the law and given the opportunity to comply in a structured and transparent manner. This approach minimizes confusion and reduces the risk of exploitation by unauthorized task forces.

I conclude by saying that in a civil society, law enforcement must be conducted with transparency, accountability, and respect for citizens’ rights. The current practices within Bwari Area Council and other parts of the FCT, where alleged task forces demand payments from private vehicle owners for unnecessary LGA documents, constitute an abuse of power that borders on extortion, intimidation and interruption of people’s daily life routines. It is imperative that the leadership of Bwari Area Council and other relevant authorities step in to curb these unlawful practices and restore public confidence in local governance. True enforcement should uphold the law, not weaponize it against the very citizens it is meant to protect.