Anambra govt sets up special squad to deal with touts, hooliganism

Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday, established the Anambra Special Anti-Touting Squad in an effort to eradicate touts from the state.

The governor issued a warning that the days of touts in the state were numbered because a full-fledged war had been declared against them during the launch on Monday in Upper-Iweka, Onitsha.

Restoring law and order in a setting where it has been the norm will be challenging, according to Soludo, which is why the exercise was conducted.

He congratulated squad members who had been chosen and had offered their services, encouraging them to do so with dedication, zeal, and perseverance.

He also advised them to adhere to laid-down standards and the code of conduct guiding their operations.

Read Also: Anambra PDP says Gov Soludo attacking critics not healthy for development

Soludo said, “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 warned all market chairmen, stressing that each market chairman must accept responsibility, that any market where touts are still present will be dismantled and the chairmen will be dismissed from their positions.

“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.

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