The Anambra State Government has intensified its crackdown on unauthorised revenue collectors as part of efforts to rid the state of criminal elements disrupting public order and commercial activity.
The Chairman of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Greg Ezeilo, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, following a series of coordinated enforcement operations carried out in partnership with the State Anti-Touting Agency.
Ezeilo said the operations, which targeted known hotspots for illegal revenue activities, led to the arrest and prosecution of several individuals posing as government agents to extort money from motorists and commercial tricycle operators.
“These arrests send a clear message: Anambra will no longer be a haven for touts and illegal levy collectors,” he stated.
“We remain committed to sanitising the revenue system and restoring public confidence in government institutions.”
He added that the ongoing operations were part of a broader plan to improve internal revenue generation without burdening residents with unlawful charges.
Several suspects were reportedly apprehended at strategic locations in Awka, including UNIZIK Junction and Regina Junction, where they were found extorting money from road users and commercial transporters.
According to AIRS, some posed as government officials while demanding levies in contravention of the state’s revenue laws.
In a related incident, one of the arrested suspects was found in possession of Indian hemp, drawing further attention to the problem of drug-related activities in the area.
All the suspects were handed over to the Internal Revenue Service for further investigation and were later arraigned in court. They were convicted and sentenced to six months in prison, a move that has been welcomed by residents and local business owners.
“We are relieved that these notorious individuals have finally been taken off the streets,” said a commercial tricycle operator in Awka. “They have made life difficult for us with their constant harassment and extortion.”
Ezeilo urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities. He also hinted that more raids were planned in the coming weeks as the government continues its drive to eliminate illegal practices and stabilise the state’s economic environment.
“This is a fight for accountability and order,” he said. “We ask citizens to join us by cooperating fully with our officers and agencies.”