Aggrieved Motorcycle and Tricycle Riders Crave PCC Intervention into Alleged Extortion, Harassment from City Police Officers

Paynesville City, LIBERIA: A group of aggrieved motorcycle and tricycle riders within in the corridor of Paynesville City, is craving the swift of intervention of the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) to address what they termed as acts of alleged “constant extortion and harassment by the Paynesville City Police”.

The group had gathered at PCC’s office located on Weaver Avenue on Thursday, February 6, 2025, to petition the City Government to probe the alleged conduct of its officers in a timely manner or risks unspecified action.

Officers of the Paynesville City Police are not the only ones accused of extortion and harassment, the Liberia National Police (LNP) officers assigned in the commercial district of Redlight and ELWA Junction were also mentioned in the allegations of extortion and harassment.

The group’s spokesperson, Amos Korkollie indicted the two security groups (LNP/PCC) for unlawfully impounding their motorcycles and tricycles in demand for huge sums of money.

Korkollie stated in the petition that due to said acts of extortion and harassment, motorcycle and tricycle riders find it difficult to meet up with their daily financial report obligation.

According to Korkollie, most times passengers get affected in the process, when City Police officers are carry out their alleged acts of corruption.

He said: "We the motorcycle and tricycle riders of Paynesville City are not satisfied with the way in which the Paynesville City Police and the Liberia National Police are constantly extorting and harassing us. This is hindering our ability to meet up with our daily report target.

"Instead of them protecting our lives and properties, they are the very ones exploiting us regularly. Due to this, some of us are losing passengers and some passengers even get hurt in the process,” the aggrieved motorcycle and tricycle riders’ spokesperson alleged.

The group also accused the City Government of intentionally imposing a “no-stop” zone to pick up and drop passengers in Redlight and ELWA Junction to create an avenue for officers to execute their alleged extortion and harassment pattern as a way of salary payment.

Korkollie urged the City Government to urgently address the situation by designating specific parking areas for motorcycle and tricycle riders within the city limit.

Accepting the petition, the City Manager, Maxwell Binda assured the group of aggrieved motorcycle and tricycle riders that matter will be addressed the matter in the soonest to time.

He vowed that PPC will convene an emergency consultative dialogue with the LNP to a find remedy to the situation.

Binda applauded the disenchanted group of motorcyclists and tricycle riders for not engaging in violence, urging them to remain calm as the City Government work to address the situation.

"We are grateful that such a thing can be done to put pen to paper. So, at this time, we will ask you to ask your colleagues that we will look into this matter and give you a redress in the shortest possible time,” the City Manager of Paynesville assured the angry-looking riders.

"We are going to meet all of our people, the Liberia National Police and our own Police, and all concerns we will be addressed," Maxwell Binda added.