The Abia State Government has arrested three market leaders and some touts in Aba for disobeying the directive of the new administration, which suspended all forms of levies imposed on commercial transporters in the state.
The suspects were nabbed on Thursday in Aba during a monitoring exercise by the Deputy Governor, Ikechuckwu Emetu.
Reports from the office of the Deputy Governor stated that those arrested were the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary of Stockfish Dealers Association of Cemetery Market, Aba.
Others nabbed during the raid were some touts who were caught extorting money from transporters in Aba, in total disobedience to the government’s directive suspending the levies.
Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, while handing over the market leaders and other touts to the Central Police Station, Aba, noted that he embarked on the on-the-spot monitoring exercise to confirm adherence to the immediate suspension of all forms of levies payable to the Abia State government by tricycles, taxes, and other commercial vehicle operators plying Abia roads.
Emetu, who stated that he received information about continuous extortion and illegal collection of levies by the miscreants before embarking on the trip, expressed dismay with the activities of such touts, which were an affront to the development policies of Governor Alex Otti.
He urged the Nigeria Police to ensure that those who disobeyed the government’s directive on the suspension are brought to book and charged in court to serve as a deterrent to others.
He further lamented that such illegal extortions do not get into the government’s coffers but end up in private bags.
The deputy governor used the occasion to inform all Abians and residents that the new administration in power in the state was out to change the narrative of many years of decay and corruption and warned against further disobedience to the government’s directives.
Areas monitored by the deputy governor included Ehi Road and Azikiwe Road by ASA, Eziukwu and Cemetery Market.
