The operation was carried out by police operatives attached to the Area Command Onitsha and Okpoko Division led by the Area Commander Onitsha, ACP John Ogbuagbaka, while they were on patrol along Head bridge, Upper Iweka and Owerri roads, all in Onitsha.
Among the persons arrested were men between the ages of 22 and 50, while exhibits recovered in their possession were tickets of all kinds.
Anambra State Government had last year, banned collection of revenue of any kind on the roads as the state battle the menace of touts and fake revenue agents, which has made the once-popular commercial city of Onitsha to lose numerous businesses.
Speaking with TNC correspondent on the operation, the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed explained that the operation was in compliance with recent directives by the State Government, banning all forms of illegal revenue collections by persons claiming to be State revenue agents or officials.
Noting that the suspects would be brought to book as soon as investigations are concluded, Mohammed warned that anybody found engaging in such acts should be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
“The Command wants to state clearly that it will continue to pursue the hoodlums until they refrain from criminal activities or relocate from Anambra State. This exercise is in continuation of our commitment towards enforcing government directives against the harassment and extortion on innocent citizens on the road in the name of IGR collection and we will enforce to the letter, that directive to ensure that residents and visitors to the state do not have difficulty prosecuting their lawful businesses here,” he restated.
