…As D G Renews Warning Against Sharp Practices
By Omonigho Okotie
The Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) has again demonstrated its zero-tolerance stance against ext0rtion by its officers, following the arr3st of one of them, Officer Oyanka Patrick, over allegations of ill3gal operations and ext0rtion at the Effurun Roundabout.
The incident, which occurred at about 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 7, 2026, was triggered by an emergency distress call received at the Effurun Command, alleging that the officer, while fully attired in official DESTMA uniform, was engaging in unauthorized and extortionate activities at his duty post.
Reacting swiftly, a joint team drawn from the Provost Unit and Intelligence Operatives of the Effurun Command was immediately deployed to the scene. The suspect was @ppreh3nded, 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 some amount of money, suspected to be proceeds of the illicit operation. He has since been formally booked, with the incident duly entered into the command’s station diary for further disciplinary action and investigation.
In a signed undertaking issued shortly after the incident, Officer Oyanka Patrick admitted to engaging in illegal duties at the Effurun Roundabout and pledged to report instead to his zone in Warri, promising never to return to the roundabout or violate any obligation imposed on him by the Authority, and consenting to be dealt with should he default henceforth.
Speaking on the development, the Director-General of DESTMA, Hon. Dr. Benjamin Essien Okiemute, said the arr3st was a direct vindication of the repeated warnings he has 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.
He further noted that the swift response of the Provost and Intelligence teams reflected the Authority’s commitment to internal accountability. “We are not just interested in enforcing traffic regulations on the public; we are equally, if not more, committed to enforcing discipline within our own officers. Every officer wears this uniform as a symbol of trust, and anyone who turns it into a tool for extortion has no place in this Authority,” he added.
Dr. Okiemute reassured members of the public that DESTMA remains committed to professionalism and accountability, urging citizens to continue reporting any act of extortion or misconduct by its officers through the Authority’s official channels.
The matter remains under investigation, and further disciplinary action is expected to follow in line with DESTMA’s internal regulations and the civil service rules.
