20 Illegal Revenue Collectors Arrested On Anambra Roads
Following the ban on collection of revenues on roads across Anambra State, twenty persons were Thursday arrested for violating the order. THE WHISTLER reported that the ban was informed by the growing menace of gangs of people demanding and collecting money on the roads, especially Onitsha, Obosi, Nnewi, Amasea, Ogidi, and Nkpor, who pretend to be agents of the state government.
The state information commissioner and public enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, had in a statement, urged residents of the state to resist any attempts by anybody in the guise of collecting revenues on roads in the state. He also called for the arrest of such persons.
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According to him, “People should resist such intimidation and extortion. In fact, any person who purports to be a revenue officer or agent, and demands payment on any of the roads in the state should be reported immediately to the nearest law enforcement officer. All law enforcement agencies in the state, including the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG), are directed to ensure the strict implementation of the decision on the ban on revenue collection on all the roads in the state.”
The latest arrest was effected by the police operatives along Head Bridge, Upper Iweka, Owerri road, Niger Street and Borromeo roundabout, all in Onitsha.
The state police PRO, SP Haruna Mohammed, Friday, said the operatives were led by the area commander, Onitsha, ACP John Ogbuagbaka, adding that, “All the suspects voluntarily confessed to the offence, and claimed they were hired by various persons to either collect or enforce the collections of revenues on behalf of government.” He warned that anybody found engaging in such acts would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Our correspondent reported that one Michael Chimezie Okorie, a truck driver from Oduma in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, died Sunday while evading revenue collectors in Anambra. The accident occurred along Asaba-Onitsha expressway by Coca-Cola market, Onitsha, at about 4am, and involved a Mercedes Benz 911 lorry with registration number ACA-178-XA, loaded with timber.
