The current commissioner for Transport in Abia State, Nnenna Obewu, has been fingered as one of the masterminds behind the illegal extortion ring operating in Aba, with various illegal task force, which she empowered with authorities from her office.
Hints from reliable sources revealed that all the illegal task force operating in Aba are coordinated for her by one tout called Power or Show Bobo. According to one transporter, who identified himself as Papa, the commissioner uses her touts to arrest transporters and impound their vehicle which they take to Fire Service premises or ministry of work in Aba. They operate mostly around railway crossing along Factory Road in Aba.One tout popularly called Fred Eme aka Atiku is also involved in the extortion ring alongside another called Prophet who is believed to be among the touts she imported from outside the state when she was appointed Commissioner for Transport by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.It will be recalled that on Tuesday, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu stormed the premises of ministry of work and fire service in Aba unannounced following security reports he received on the activities of the touts who have been oppressing motorists, residents and visitors to Aba. The visibly angry Governor immediately ordered the police area commander for Aba to release all the vehicles illegally impounded by the touts organized by the Commissioner and arrest all the ring leaders.One of the arrested ring leaders alleged that the Commissioner is behind the extortion ring and also named others who are now at large with the police on their trail. Recently, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu uncovered another extortion gang operating out of the Aba Urban Renewal Committee team that was collecting illegal levies from residents in the guise of properties verification levy and issued a statement outlawing the collection of the levy through his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos.Following the actions of the governor yesterday at Aba, many residents have commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his intervention and urged him to also stop those extorting money from traders and Keke operators at Aba and Umuahia.
