...“Anambra is not a playground for touts.
ANAMBRA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Anambra State Government, through its Special Anti-Touting Squad, has apprehended six individuals accused of illegally collecting money around the River Niger bridges and communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
The arrests were carried out on Monday at various locations during a coordinated operation, following investigations that revealed the suspects had been extorting residents, transport operators, and investors under the pretext of collecting levies.
Speaking to journalists on the development, the Managing Director of the Special Anti-Touting Squad, Monday Nwokoye, said the operation was part of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive to end all unauthorised cash collections in the state.
According to Nwokoye, the operation was initiated based on tip-offs and intelligence from residents and victims who reported that some individuals were stopping people and forcibly collecting money from them under false pretences.
He stated, “The Special Anti-Touting Squad recorded a major breakthrough on Monday with the arrest of six notorious illegal collectors operating across Ogbaru and the Head Bridge axis. The suspects were apprehended during a coordinated operation after investigations revealed they had been extorting citizens, transport operators, and investors under the guise of collecting levies.
“These arrests align with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive that there must be no more illegal cash collections in Anambra State. The government has also directed that all legitimate levies be paid only through the official state POS system to ensure proper documentation, transparency, and accountability.”
Nwokoye warned that anyone caught collecting money from residents, visitors, commercial bus operators, tricycle riders, or traders without proper authorisation would be arrested and prosecuted under the law.
He added, “Anambra is not a playground for touts. The state will continue to flush out illegal operators to protect investors and restore order in public spaces.”
The iNews Times reports that on November 14, 2025, the Anambra State Government, through the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), arrested seven illegal revenue collectors operating across different communities in the state.
The suspects were apprehended at Umueze Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area, Umueri in Anambra East LGA, and Nkpor along Obosi Road in Idemili North LGA.
The Commander of the AIRS Special Squad, Nathan Obikwelu, said the arrests followed a tip-off about an incident in Umueri, where individuals allegedly stopped a tricycle operator transporting 18 cartons of fish and demanded N18,000 from him.
