Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State witnessed unprecedented drama at the weekend, as touts said to be government revenue collectors tried to intercept a convoy of a popular industrialist, but ended up attacking and injuring police officers on his convoy.
News Echo reports that the incident took place at Okigwe road, off Aba GRA, where the convoy of the industrialist was accosted by the touts whom many residents alleged were from Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (ABIR).
A source at the scene said about five touts on a white minibus, went after the Tundra Pickup Jeep and Toyota Corolla of the industrialist and attacked them. The source said that immediately the touts saw the convoy slowing down they jumped out of their minibus, rushed after the Tundra Pickup Jeep and attacked the occupants of the vehicle, which included a police officer.
Consequently, the policemen released some shots, which scared the touts away. However one of them was arrested by the police. “The boys ran away with their minibus, but I saw a police officer injured and one of the police arrested and taken away by the police officers heading towards Aba Area Command.”
News Echo gathered that after the touts confronted and injured a mobile police officer, who was rushed to Aba Area Command Police Clinic, one of the touts identified, as Kyrian Soronnadi, from Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State was arrested.
Many residents, who witnessed the incident pleaded with Abia State Government to remove touts from the road, so that people can do their businesses freely without harassment.
“My problem is that government kept telling us that they are not using touts to collect revenue, but on daily basis you see touts on Abia roads.
Efforts made to contact the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in Abia, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna failed, as several calls placed on his mobile line was unsuccessful.
