The Police in Anambra State have  arrested  29 illegal revenue collectors in the Onitsha area of the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, said this in a statement in Awka, the Anambra State capital on Wednesday.

He said while 13 of the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, 16 were nabbed on Monday.

He said the action was to stop illegal revenue collectors from extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public.

He said, “In furtherance to its avowed commitment towards stemming the tide of illegal revenue collections, harassment and extortion on innocent citizens on the road in the name of IGR collection, police patrol teams on January 20, 2021, while on patrol along Upper Iweka, Oba Ring and Owerri roads in Onitsha, arrested 13 illegal revenue collectors under false pretence of being government revenue agents in the state.

“Suspects voluntarily to the offence and claimed they were hired by one “Jonjoloko” to either collect or enforce the collections of revenue on behalf of government.

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“This brought the number of suspects arrested for illegal revenue collections so far to 29 within three days and the operation is still ongoing.

“Recall that the command paraded 16 suspects on Monday.

“This operation is in compliance with Anambra State Government’s directives on the December 7, 2020, “banning all forms of illegal  revenue collections by persons claiming to be  state revenue agents or officials.

The PPRO said the suspects would be brought to justice as soon as investigations were concluded, warning that anybody found engaging in such acts should be ready to face the full wrath of the law.

“The Command will continue to pursue the hoodlums in the state until they refrain from criminal activities or relocate from the state,” Mohammed added.