24 Persons Arrested In Onitsha For Illegal Sale Of Emblems, Tickets

Twenty-four persons have been arrested by the men of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, OCHA, Brigade for selling illegal emblem and tickets in Onitsha Metropolis.

The raid was in fulfilling State Government's efforts in ridding the State of illegal revenue collectors that intimidate and exploit law abiding members of the public and divert government funds.

The OCHA brigade in company of members of the Nigerian Police Force, The National Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Navy embarked in mopping up Onitsha Metropolis of illegal agents that sell tickets, to commercial motorcyclists, bus drivers, and petty traders.

The team visited different streets and roads in Onitsha, including Iweka Road, Owerri Road, Upper Iweka Flyover and several other places.

However, these perceived miscreants brazenly resisted the Brigade, mobilizing others to throw stones and broken bottles on the men even in spite of the heavy security presence accompanying the men of the Brigade.

Handing them over to the Nigerian Police Force, at Fegge Police Station, the Special Assistant in-charge of Security and Operations, OCHA Brigade, Mr. Daniel Martins said the operation was to give a lease of life to lawful citizens to engage in their businesses without intimidation from miscreants.

Some of those arrested denied out rightly engaging in the act, while others justified their actions by saying it was lack of employment that made them engage in the illegal business.

The Supervising Counselor, Onitsha South Local Government Area, Mr. Charles Ogbotogbo, clarified that some of those arrested, work for the Internally Generated Revenue office of the Local Government.