Anambra : Illegal revenue collection not in our market – chairman

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

The Anambra chairman of Sokoto road market, near Onitsha Main market, Anambra State, Chief Emeka Mbachu, has denied the allegation making the round in some quarters that his security operatives extort money from tricycle operators and others on daily basis from 5.00pm.

Making the denial, Mbachu said that since he came on board as the market chairman the issue of extortion and touting have become a thing of the past, adding that his market is customer friendly.

“My security operatives do not extort any money, where they extort money from people is Niger street and I have reported to Idoko, a security operative. These are the touts we are talking about and they extort traders who come to the market to make purchases and sometimes they extort at gunpoint.

“We are on it to tackle the issue because anything that happens outside Sokoto road they say it is Sokoto road market. I am part of those fighting touts and illegal revenue collectors in the market.,” he stated.

Also the chairman of favour line, Chukwudi Ogum Emmanuel, said, “Since Mbachu took over as chairman, such extortion and touting never happened again. It is enemies of the market that are carrying this rumour,” he stated.

Also reacting, the secretary, Onyebuchi Nwogu, stated that such thing like extortion and illegal levy collection have stopped with the take over of Mbachu. We know everything about Sokoto road market. Even touting has become a thing of the past,” he further explained.

Earlier, the Commander of the Taskforce, Ebuka Abakwam, said that, “It is not true that security operatives of Sokoto market extort tricycle operators and traders.

“Sokoto, because of its popularity, whatever thing that happens outside the market they will say that it happened at Sokoto road. I stay here from 4.00pm daily to 7.00pm to ensure people are not extorted,” he further revealed.