Government officials manning checkpoints in Wau State are extorting money from drivers travelling on the road, a senior official at the transport union said.

Awad Achuil Hassan, head of the transport union in Wau, told Radio Tamazuj that some commercial vehicles stopped working due to high taxes imposed on drivers without receipts in Wau.

“They have not set any price to be paid at the checkpoints, they just impose payment of money according to what is in their minds,” said Achuil.   

He pointed out that government agents at checkpoints along the Wau-Juba road usually prevent vehicles from travelling if they don’t pay about 15,000 SSP.

Achuil called upon the relevant authorities in Wau State to remove the checkpoints that hinder movements of people in the state.