ONITSHA, AUGUST 31, 2016 – No fewer than 70 suspects have been arrested for allegedly harassing, extorting and collecting illegal revenue from motorists in Onitsha, Anambra.The suspects, who operated mostly along Upper Iweka road and Head Bridge, were apprehended by a joint team of the Nigeria Police and officers of an Anambra Government agency, Ocha Brigade.
Presenting the suspects to newsmen at the Police Area Command, Onitsha, on Wednesday, the Managing Director of Ocha Brigade, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, said they were arrested at Nwugo Park, Onitsha, following series of complaints.
“Anambra has been a peaceful state since Gov. Willie Obiano took over as governor, but some hoodlums and criminals who were chased out of the state came back through some revenue agents.
“They rob, harass, intimidate, molest, maltreat and maim people in the name of collecting Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state government.
“60 per cent of those arrested are fake agents, while about 40 per cent are genuine revenue agents whose mode of operations was being questioned.
“As you go to Upper Iweka, Onitsha, when you stop your vehicle more than 20 persons will barge into your vehicle with various emblems charging people with impunity.
“And as they are collecting the money, they are robbing you,” the managing director said, noting that it was becoming an embarrassment to the state government.
He explained that the raid was to instill sanity in revenue collection, following an order by the governor, who would not tolerate the rascality of the suspected hoodlums.
According to him, “we are driving IGR but not with violence or by pulling down ‘Okada man’ in motion and injuring the passengers on the ground.
“Why should someone in the name of collecting revenue jump into a vehicle, injure, ransack and rob passengers of their valuables,” he asked.
Okonkwo, who stated that the activities of the suspects were also shortchanging the government in its revenue drive, noted that they would be charged to court for prosecution.
A motorist, Alhaji Abdulsalam Moruf, who narrated his ordeal, said the suspects insisted on collecting N80, 000 from him in spite of showing them a Government approved emblem obtained in Lagos.
Another motorist, Mr Chuks Eboka, said about 20 persons jumped into his car surprisingly at Onitsha while returning from Lagos around 8:00 p.m.
Eboka said that they overpowered him after dragging the steering with him and demanded for stickers and emblems.
“Even though I showed them my stickers, they told me I either settle them there or they take me to their office and pay N49, 000 there.
“They deflated my tyres at their park because I had no money to pay that night,” Eboka said.
