Professor Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra State has launched the Anambra Special Anti-Touting Squad in his bold efforts to rid the state of touts and hoodlums.
The governor, during the launch in Upper-Iweka, Onitsha, on Monday, warned that the days of touts and hoodlums in the state are numbered as a full-blown war will henceforth be declared against them.
He pointed out that where lawlessness has become a culture, restoration of law and order might be difficult, hence his reason for the initiative.
While congratulating members of the squad and urging them to serve with commitment, passion, and diligence, he counseled them to adhere to laid-down code of conduct guiding their operations.
Soludo declared: “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 on the key promise we made to the people living in the greater Onitsha area, which consists of Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru, Oyi, 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 areas were taken over. Thanks to the combined efforts of our security agencies and the vigilante service with their support, those local government areas have been liberated and normalcy restored.”
Soludo also solicits citizens’ support telling them; ‘if you see something, you say something.’ He promised that phone numbers shall be made available to citizens to inform the government of any touting activities they noticed in the area.
Professor Soludo equally warned market chairmen saying that any market where touts are still operating shall be disbanded and the chairmen shall be removed from office.
“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 and 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,” he added.
Chikodiri Anara, Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, in his opening remarks, stated that the launch of the Special Anti-Touting Squad is the beginning of the journey.
Anara went on by assuring that by December, positive changes would be noticed. He also gave a note of warning to hoodlums causing trouble in the state to leave the state, as they won’t find it comfortable to operate from now on.
