Abia State Government arrests thugs collecting illegal revenues from Traders.
Aba, March 9, 2025- In a continued effort to rid Abia State of illegal revenue collection, the Abia State Harmonized Taskforce (ASHTF), in collaboration with officers of the Nigeria Police, conducted a successful raid on unauthorized revenue agents operating in Aba.
At approximately 6:30 am on Sunday, the Aba Area Coordinator of ASHTF, Mr. Uche Wogu, led a combined enforcement team to Ehi Road, Aba, where they apprehended 11 suspects involved in the illegal collection of revenue from traders. According to reports, the suspects claimed to have been authorized by the Aba South Local Government in 2017 to collect tolls on behalf of certain communities. However, the state government has since banned unauthorized revenue collection, making their activities illegal.
In a related development, the task force also arrested five mechanics at Jubilee for allegedly obstructing and damaging major roads with their activities. The suspects were all taken into custody at the Ndiegoro Police Station, pending further investigations and possible prosecution.
Following this operation, the Abia State Harmonized Taskforce (ASHTF) issued a stern warning to all individuals and groups still engaged in illegal revenue collection across the state. The agency emphasized that those caught will face arrest and prosecution under the law.
Traders and market women were specifically advised to report any unauthorized revenue collectors harassing them. They were also warned not to make cash payments for any form of state revenue, as the Abia State Government, under Governor Alex Otti, does not accept cash payments. Instead, all revenue payments must be made directly into the official state government account.
Any revenue demands outside this official process should be considered fraudulent and immediately reported to ASHTF.
The Abia State Harmonized Taskforce has provided emergency contact numbers for citizens to report illegal revenue collection activities:
ASHTF Emergency Lines:
Residents and business owners are encouraged to use these numbers to alert the task force about any suspicious revenue collection activities in their areas.
This latest crackdown is part of the state governments broader effort to sanitize the revenue collection process, eliminate fraud, and ensure transparency. Governor Alex Otti's administration remains committed to improving the ease of doing business in Abia State by eradicating multiple taxation, extortion, and illegal levies that have long burdened traders and business owners.
The state government reassures the public that only authorized agencies will collect revenue, and all payments must be processed through official channels. The ASHTF has vowed to continue its operations until all unauthorized collectors are removed.
This development is expected to bring relief to traders and business operators in Aba, many of whom have suffered years of extortion by illegal revenue agents.
