A staff of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority, DESTMA, popularly called ‘Okowa Police’, has been arrested and handcuffed for alleged extortion while on illegal duty at Effurun Roundabout in Delta State.
Actual News learnt that the officer, identified as Oyanka Patrick, was apprehended by his colleagues on Monday, September 7, 2026, at about 10am following an emergency distress call received at the Effurun Command.
According to a statement from the office of the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Omonigho Okotie, the officer was caught fully kitted in official DESTMA uniform while allegedly engaging in unauthorized and extortionate activities at his duty post.
“In reaction, a joint team drawn from the Provost Unit and Intelligence Operatives of the Effurun Command was immediately deployed to the scene,” the statement said.
The suspect was restrained in line with standard procedure and escorted to the command headquarters for interrogation. A search conducted on him in the presence of intelligence officers led to the recovery of an undisclosed amount of money suspected to be proceeds of the illicit operation.
He has since been formally booked, with the incident entered into the command’s station diary for further disciplinary action and investigation.
In a signed undertaking issued after the incident, Officer Oyanka Patrick admitted to engaging in illegal duties at the Effurun Roundabout. He pledged to report to his zone in Warri and promised never to return to the roundabout or violate any obligation again.
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of DESTMA, Dr. Benjamin Essien Okiemute, said the arrest vindicated repeated warnings issued to officers during the Authority’s routine Monday and Thursday pep talks.
“I have said it over and over again at our Monday and Thursday briefings; any officer caught extorting members of the public will face the full weight of the law and internal discipline. What happened at Effurun Roundabout is exactly the kind of conduct we will not tolerate,” the DG stated.
(TheTownHall)
