Anambra: Soludo fights to restore Onitsha’s image
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Mr Ezike (not his real name) narrated an encounter he had in Upper Iweka, Onitsha, Anambra State last week. In a voice note that has gone viral online, Ezike wrote to his friends about their encounter: “Yesterday, I saw a pepper in my eye at Upper Iweka. I was just arriving at Onisha from Asaba around 8pm.
“As soon as our bus parked in Upper Iweka, touts started taking people’s belongings. They even had cutlass fish and if you were late handing over your bag you would be hit with a machete. It was a very traumatic experience.”
Ezike’s experience is not far off from what others have witnessed in Onitsha. The city is well known for the touts and activities of armed robbers, sometimes in broad daylight.
However, Governor Chukwuma Soludo is determined to ensure that the state, especially Onitsha, its commercial hub, is freed from these undesirable elements. During the last Ofara festival by the people of Onitsha, Soludo told the people that the government plans to phase out touts in Onitsha, so that people can do business without fear of intimidation or sexual abuse. He argued that it must be possible to do so.
The governor had the right words recently when he launched what is called the Anambra Special Anti-Touting Squad, code-named SASA.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in Onitsha, Soludo said: “The inauguration of this force, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru, Oyi and Idemili, aims to restore Anambra State, known for its law and order, to its full glory as a beacon of the nation.
“When we took office, eight local governments were taken over. Thanks to the cooperation of our security agencies and vigilante groups, areas in these local governments were liberated and normalcy restored. .
“We told our young people to come out of hiding and out of the bushes. We support.
“While dealing with larger hoodlums, we will also deal with touts in Onitsha Greater Area and Anambra State as a whole.
“What we are fighting for is to restore the soul of a society ruled by law and order, rather than a society where everyone does whatever they want without relying on law and order.
“Touts disturb customers coming from all corners of the country. But this journey is to save Onitsha and the whole Anambra State as a commercial hub,” the governor said.
It seemed like a reward for the launch, but less than 24 hours later, 64 people were arrested by the newly formed anti-touting group SASA.
The touts and other suspected criminals were arrested around Upper Iweka in Bridgehead and Chisco Motor Park in Onitsha. Parading the suspects in Onitsha, the SASA Director of Operations, Mr. Solomon Onwuemene, said the arrests would continue until the criminals were cleared from the Onitsha metropolis.
He said, “Following the inauguration of the Anambra State Special Anti-Sauging Squad (SASA) in Onitsha by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the unit has swung into action and arrested 64 suspected touts and Wanchan robbers in various parts of Onitsha. One suspect was arrested.” All those arrested will be tried according to the law as a deterrent to others. ”
Meanwhile, there are concerns that some of the state government agency employees charged with ensuring order may themselves be causing a nuisance to state residents.
Mr. Chibuike Uroka, a public policy analyst, said that while there are touts in Onitsha and other major cities in Anambra State, the bigger challenge facing the people of Anambra State is what they call official touts.
He said these able-bodied men in various uniforms were caught in a viral video bullying innocent road users and businessmen, even physically torturing them, for traffic violations and revenue collection purposes. He said that
Commenting on the level of touts in Anambra State, Chibuike Uroka said: “Recently, reports from Anambra State have highlighted the unruly behavior of touts and Agberos who operate as a source of income in the state. It is causing distress to traders, motorcycle riders and tricycle riders.
“Rather than condemning the rise of touts and agberos in the commercial hubs and rural areas of the state, Professor Charles Soludo’s deliberate silence shows that these thugs are not helping the people who need protection from the state. We encourage them to continue their attacks.
“With the recent formation of the anti-touting squad, touting recruitment in Anambra State has skyrocketed to a total of over 53,000 in just 19 months.
“These people receive little or no compensation, but are empowered to assault and abuse citizens. Professor Charles Soludo’s government will hire 100,000 people a year over the next four years. He promised to create and turn 1 million young people into millionaires.
“Instead of fostering industry and supporting small businesses and job training, many young people are relegated to touts and street urchins, causing further disruption to struggling businesses and economic activity.”
But SASA Operations Director Solomon Onwuemene thinks differently.
He said with the inauguration of SASA, touting and petty crime would be phased out in Anambra.
He said more than 600 touts had been arrested since the group’s launch.
“Most of the suspected touts were arrested in Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru and Idemili North local government areas.
“Several incriminating items were recovered from the suspects, including white cocaine, methamphetamine (commonly known as mkpụrụmmiri) and other illegal drugs,” he revealed.
He assured that the problem of touts would soon be a thing of the past in Anambra State, and further commended Governor Soludo, the Secretary of State for Land Affairs, Mr Chikodili Annala and the entire Anambra people for their unwavering support. contributed to the success of their work.
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Source: dailypost.ng