Anambra Govt Accused Of  Recruiting Armed Robbers, Kidnappers As Revenue Agents 

President-General of Ogidi International Market, Idemili North Local Government Area, Chief Jude Nwankwo, made the accusation while briefing newsmen in his office yesterday.

Nwankwo equally used the platform of the media briefing to demand the refund of 30 million naira paid in error to the  state government through the Ministry of Transport as Internally Generated Revenue.

The PG who briefed journalists on lingering issues hinted that the traders in Ogidi international market paid 30 million naira to the state government as Internally Generated Revenue to prevent touts from coming into the market to collect the IGR from  traders.

The PG who doubles as the patron of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, said that the payment became necessary following the criminal activities of most touts who  commit one crime or another hiding under the cover of government IGR agents.

He said, “We paid 30 million naira to be collecting  loading and off loading of vehicles IGR on behalf of the state government by ourselves because these touts are armed robbers. Since I assumed office as the PG of the market, I never wanted them. They are the same people that rob at gun-point, kidnap people and commit all manner of atrocities.

“These are people sacked from the roads by the state government and allowing them to come into the market to collect revenue on behalf of the state government will be risky.

“Government has suspended collection of levies on vehicles for loading and off loading in the markets and as such our money is hanging. So traders are demanding for the refund from Soludo.

“We want the government to refund us since the levy collection on vehicles in the market has been suspended for now.”

He however commended Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for his relentless efforts in fighting crimes and criminality in the state pointing out that he has been able to checkmate crime to the barest minimum.

“Since the Governor came in crime reduced drastically. We need peace in Anambra and I think the Governor has asked those jobless youths to come up and learn a trade. If the youths are kept busy there will not be crimes  unless from those who are born criminals,” he stated.