By SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN — Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has warned local governments in the state against illegal road blocks for the purpose of extorting motorists and other road users.

The governor, who gave the warning, yesterday, in Benin when he received a delegation of Elders from Ovia North-East Local Government Area in his office, said government would set up a task force and anyone caught would be dealt with.

Oshiomhole said: “We have stopped the local governments from collecting taxes on traffic related issues. The Local Government Act does not allow them to set up traffic control units, impound vehicles and collect money.

“Traffic control is the exclusive prerogative of the state government and we are trying to create a proper identity for them so that we do not turn the state to a nightmare for road users.

“We also want to stop them from stopping vehicles that are passing through Edo State.

“They ask motorists to produce their radio and television licences. Signals to cars are not from local governments.

“As a government, we must ensure that we do not behave like thugs in the eyes of our people.”