Police Arrest 3 ‘Revenue Officials’ For Collecting Money On Anambra Roads

Three persons have been apprehended in Anambra State for allegedly collecting revenues on the roads. They were arrested by the police operatives attached to the state police command’s Rapid Response Squad (RRS) along MCC junction, Obosi, and Upper Iweka.

The state police PRO, SP Haruna Mohammed, told our correspondent on Thursday that the suspects are Paul Nnamdi Okonkwo, 40, from Amafor village, Nkpor; Chukwura Ebube, 23, of Amafor village, Nkpor, and Miss Cynthia Agbaero, of Afisiri village in Ugheli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The suspects however claimed they were revenue collectors hired by one Hon Innocent Offordile, said to be a senior special assistant to the governor on security and chairman of the Enforcement and Compliance Committee. The police said investigations were ongoing after which they would be charged to court.

THE WHISTLER reported that the Anambra State government had on 7th December, 2020 banned collection of revenues on roads. The state information commissioner, Mr C. Don Adinuba, had in a statement ordered the arrest of any person seen collecting revenues on roads in any part of the state. Adinuba, in the statement, announced that law enforcement agencies, including the Anambra State Vigilante Movement, were empowered to enforce the order.

Our correspondent also reported that one Michael Chimezie Okorie, a truck driver from Oduma in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, died Sunday while being pursued by the revenue collectors. The accident occurred along Asaba-Onitsha expressway by Coca-Cola market, Onitsha, and involved a Mercedes Benz 911 lorry with registration number ACA-178-XA, loaded with timber.