Commuters groan over extortion by touts in Anambra

Travellers and residents of Onitsha in Anambra State are calling on the state government to rescue them from the hands of touts and thugs parading themselves as agents of government extorting N1000 from them over what they call “matching ground fee”.

Signaturetv.org correspondent in Anambra State reports that the touts harass, intimidate, and forcefully collect N1000 from travellers at Upper Iweka, along Onitsha-Owerri road, for rolling their travelling bags as they walk to their destination(s). The thugs call it ground and load fee.

The touts who claim to have been duly inaugurated by governor Willie Obiano to collect load fees, walk through the major streets, markets and highways in Onitsha, looking for those walking and rolling bags along.

They pounce on such unsuspecting people at throat-choking commando style, wrestle such bags and demand for N1000 “ground fee”, or the forfeiture of the bag.

One Blessing Nna who was a victim of the thugs along Upper Iweka, Onitsha narrated her experience.

”I am so sad right this morning-Anambra why? She started.

. I saw this thing here on this platform i over looked it until now.

I had to pay this Onitsha touts/thugs #1,000 naira this morning for my traveling echolac bag i was carrying with my hand”.

“They said that government asked them to collect money for every load Or they will seize it. That for dragging it on the ground i will pay, and for matching the ground. I was shocked.

Before i could talk they have reached six guys. I was so scared with their broken faces that has been stitched. And rods they were carrying. this Guys were Very serious and mean. Ready to devour me” she continued.

One said ” bia this girl nyem ego now or m ga  adosaa gi here now, kpoo anybody i choro ikpo,”  he said in Igbo language, meaning “come this girl give me money now or I will scatter you here and now. Call anyone you want to call”.  Before i turned one has already dragged my box”.

“God, i paid a thousand naira with abeg ooo. Now my transport has been shortened. This guys are rendering people helpless.

Anambra government do something please”, she  complained.

Efforts to ascertain the veracity of the claim that the touts were revenue agents of the Anambra State government detailed to collect ground fee from people walking along the road with crawling bag was unsuccessful as the phones of some government officials our correspondent called were not through.

However, a government revenue agent in Onitsha main market who pleaded for anonymity said he was not aware of such ground fee and asked our correspondent to go to Awka, the Anambra State Capital for clarification.

Some other commuters who encountered similar experiences said the scenario is gradually spreading to other parts of the state.