By PAMELA EBOH, Awka
Barely one week after Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuna Soludo, launched Special Anti-Touting Squad in the commercial city of Onitsha, were two males suspected related by blood on Wednesday burnt to death for touting in the area.
A video making its rounds on social media showed bystanders watching the movie like scene, screaming: “These are touts collecting illegal taxes in around Bida area of Onitsha. They were being set ablaze for touting. They are children of somebody. This is the return of Bakassi Boys.”
The alleged touts were however seen in the viral video struggling to escape from bonfire to no avail.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, in his reaction condemned the jungle justice style, even as he described the suspects as notorious armed robbers.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, has condemned the act and reiterated his call for members of the public to always take criminal offenders to the nearest police station for necessary policing actions,, particularly the conduct of appreciate investigations.
“The CP has therefore ordered a thorough investigation of the incident.
“Meanwhile preliminary information reveals that the two suspects who were later identified as Omaume and Monday, are members of a notorious armed robbery gang led by one Ikanda, (male) already in the Correctional Service Centre.
“This gang is alleged to be responsible for several acts of attack and the dispossession of traders and unsuspecting victims of their personal belongings at the main market Onitsha.”
Recall that the Governor, Soludo had last week launched the Anambra Special Anti-Touting Squad in his efforts to get rid of touts in the state.
In the course of the launch held at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, the governor pointed out that in an environment where lawlessness had become a norm, bringing back law and order will be difficult, hence the purpose of the exercise.
He hailed members of the squad who had been found worthy and offered to serve, urging them to serve with commitment, passion and diligence.
His words: “Members of the anti-touting squad shall collaborate with the Nigerian Armed Forces, who have the primary responsibility to keep the state safe.
“The launch of the squad is an acceleration of the key promise we made to the people living in the greater Onitsha area, which consists of Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Oyi, Ogbaru, and Idemili, to restore Anambra State known for law and order, back to its full glory as the Light of the nation.
“When we assumed office, eight local government area were taken over. Thanks to the combined efforts of our security agencies and the vigilante service with their superb support, those local government areas have been liberated and normalcy restored. “
The governor further enjoined citizens to always remember, “if you see something, say something and to put it into practice”.
According to him, mobile phone numbers shall be made available to citizens to inform the government of any touting activities they noticed in the area.
He further warned that any market were touts are found operating, the chairman shall be removed from office.
To the market chairman, he said: “Take responsibility.
“We have told the youths to come out from their hideouts from the bush. We shall help to rehabilitate and integrate them into society to be useful to their families, communities, states and nations.
“While dealing with hoodlums on a larger scale, we will be dealing with touts in Onitsha, greater area of Anambra State as a whole.
“We are fighting a war to bring back the soul of our society governed by law and order, not a society where anyone does what he or she likes arbitrarily without recourse to law and order.
“Touts disturb customers who come from every nook and cranny of the country. But, this journey is to rescue Onitsha as a commercial hub and Anambra State in general.”
Credit: NEWS EXPRESS.
