Anambra State Cracks Down on Illegal Revenue Collectors, Arrests Seven Across Multiple Communities

The Anambra State government has intensified its efforts to eliminate unauthorised revenue collection across the state, leading to the arrest of seven individuals allegedly involved in illegal levy activities. The arrests were carried out on Friday by operatives of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), who have been conducting field surveillance and enforcement operations in communities where illegal toll collection remains a persistent problem.

According to the AIRS, the operation spanned several locations, including Umueze Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area, Umueri in Anambra East LGA, and the busy Nkpor–Obosi corridor in Idemili North. These locations were identified by authorities as hotspots for unauthorised revenue agents who publicly extort transport workers, traders, and small business operators in the name of government taxes and levies.

Nathan Obikwelu, Commander of the AIRS Special Squad, explained that the operation was prompted by a tip-off from an unnamed informant. The informant had reported a disturbing incident in Umueri in which a group of men allegedly intercepted a tricycle operator transporting 18 cartons of fish and demanded a payment of ₦18,000 before allowing him to proceed. This report prompted the AIRS enforcement team to intensify its surveillance and respond swiftly to the affected locations.

Obikwelu identified the arrested individuals as Olisah Monday, Chukwubuike Tony, Nweke Stephen, Nwachukwu Nnamdi, Ugochukwu Umerah, Oluebube Chukwunagolum, and Adakaigbo Onyeka. He noted that the seven suspects were apprehended in separate operations as they attempted to extort money from commercial transport operators and other unsuspecting residents. Some of the suspects were allegedly found collecting illicit tolls at a sand mining site in Umueze Anam, while others were arrested along the Nkpor–Obosi road, a route notorious for harassment of drivers by unauthorised groups.

In his briefing, Obikwelu praised the state government for its continued support of the enforcement unit. He acknowledged the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who has repeatedly emphasised that all forms of illegal revenue collection must end in Anambra. He also commended the AIRS Chairman, Dr. Greg Ezeilo, for providing the operational logistics and resources that make sustained enforcement possible. Obikwelu warned that the agency will not relent in identifying, arresting, and prosecuting any individuals or groups who attempt to impose illegal levies on the public.

He reiterated that only personnel officially authorised by the state have the mandate to collect government taxes. Any person or group operating outside the recognised legal framework, he stressed, will be treated as criminals regardless of the documents they present. One of the suspects, Nwachukwu Nnamdi, admitted during questioning that they had been collecting money but insisted that they were acting based on “legal documents.” Authorities, however, dismissed these documents as invalid and reiterated that the state maintains clear channels for issuing authentic revenue collection permits.

The Anambra State government reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the menace of illegal revenue collectors, who contribute to economic hardship and discourage legitimate business operations. The administration maintains that such practices threaten public order, undermine government policy, and place undue financial pressure on hardworking transport operators and traders.

By stepping up enforcement and responding promptly to reports from the public, the state hopes to restore sanity across its transport routes and marketplaces while ensuring that all government revenues are collected transparently and lawfully—not by private individuals seeking personal gain but through the proper institutional systems.