Police patrol teams led by the Area Commander Onitsha, ACP John Ogbuagbaka, yesterday, arrested thirteen more illegal revenue collectors under false pretence of being government revenue agents in the State.
The police operatives made the arrests while on patrol along, Upper Iweka, Oba Ring Road and Owerri Road, all in Onitsha.
A statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Haruna Mohammed, said the exercise was in furtherance to its avowed comittment towards stemming the tide of illegal revenue collections, harassement and extortion on innocent citizens on the roads in the name of IGR collection.
According to the PPRO, the suspects voluntarily confessed to the offence and claimed they were hired by one “Jonjoloko” to either collect or enforce the collections of revenue on behalf of government.
He said this brought the number of suspects arrested for illegal revenue collections so far within three days, to twenty nine,
adding that the operation is still ongoing.
It would be recalled that the command has paraded sixteen suspects on Monday, 18th January, 2021.
The PPRO further explained that the operation was in compliance with Anambra State Government directives on the 7th December, 2020, “banning all forms of illegal revenue collections by persons claiming to be State revenue agents or officials.
Haruna informed that the suspects would be brought to book as soon as investigations are concluded.
Consequently, the Command warned that anybody found engaging in such acts should be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
He emphasised that the Command will continue to pursue the hoodlums until they refrain from criminal activities or relocate from the State.
