Anambra State Government has launched “Operation End Agbero” to enforce its ban on touts, commonly known as “agboros” and their activities in Anambra State, with over twenty five (25) persons arrested and arraigned.
The suspects were arrested during a recent raid carried out by a crack team of OCHA Brigade at Upper Iweka and Obosi areas of Anambra State.
The Professor Chukwuma Soludo-led government has repeatedly stated that agboros have been banned in the State because it does not provide a sustainable means of livelihood and it encourages anti-social behaviours that are incompatible with a livable and pleasurable new Anambra.
The government had offered to provide agboros with employment but they must, first of all, go and register their names and phone numbers with their respective Local Governments.
According to a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, the Ocha Brigade Commander disclosed that his men will ramp up their enforcement in days ahead since these touts have refused to accept the olive branch extended to them by the government.
It could be recalled that upon resumption of office, Governor Soludo declared that his administration will put to end, any form of touting/Agbero in the State and has since enjoined youths of Anambra to enroll in skill training and other youth empowerment programmes that will help take them off the streets.
These efforts has, however, been continually neglected by some notorious youths who are been used as tools to destabilize the State and frustrate the efforts of the State Government in making Anambra, livable, healthy, green and prosperous.
They continued to devise means to extort Ndi Anambra and divert government revenue into private pockets.
Yesterday, at Upper Iweka, Obosi, Bridge Head and other parts of Onitsha, the MD/SG Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra; Ocha Brigade, Chief Celestine Anere, arrested twenty five persons impersonating government officials on IGR, operating illegal parks, extorting market women, bus, Keke and truck drivers within the Onitsha metropolis.
The suspects were arraigned at the command headquarters, Awka and has been charged to court for prosecution. This is one among many arrest that has been made since the commencement of enforcement of the Governor’s directive on touting.
The special enforcement team also observed a stop and check on motorist and tricycle operators to ensure adequate tax compliance to enable the agency and the State Government focus more on providing adequate services for the people.
Residents are encouraged to report any illegal tax operators and activities of Agbero to help the State Government rid the State of these heinous activities to the following telephone numbers: 07069680112, 08120356133. Read more.
See photos of the operation below:
