Two brothers burnt to death for touting in Anambra state

Yesterday, two touts who were believed to be brothers were burned to death in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Bystanders could be seen yelling in a video that had gone viral, “These are touts collecting illegal levies in the Bida neighbourhood of Onitsha.” They were being consumed in flames for engaging in prostitution. This is undesirable. Excessive punishment is imposed for mere advocacy. They are to some individual infants. The return of the Bakassi Boys has occurred.

The video captured the alleged touts attempting to flee the conflagration but were unsuccessful, according to the Nigerian Tribune.

The Anambra Police Command condemned the jungle justice in response to the development, but characterised the suspects as notorious armed criminals.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the state police public relations officer (PPRO), stated, “The act has been condemned by CP Aderemi Adeoye, the commissioner of police. He has reaffirmed his appeal for members of the public to promptly report criminal offenders to the nearest police station so that appropriate investigations can be conducted and for necessary policing actions to be taken.”

“Consequently, the CP has mandated an exhaustive investigation into the incident.”

“In the interim, preliminary information suggests that the two male suspects, subsequently identified as Monday and Omaume, are affiliated with a renowned armed robbery gang under the leadership of an Ikanda (male). These suspects have already been transferred to the Correctional Service Custodial Centre.”

“It is alleged that the gang is accountable for multiple acts of aggression, including the theft of personal belongings from traders and unsuspecting victims at the Main Market in Onitsha.”

Please be reminded that the Anambra Special Anti-Touting Squad was established by the governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, last week as part of his initiative to eradicate touts from the state.

Ahead of the launch in Upper-Iweka, Onitsha, the governor issued a dire warning that vendors would no longer be tolerated in the state, declaring a full-scale war on them.

Restoring law and order in a society where lawlessness had become ingrained in the culture was difficult, according to Soludo; thus, the exercise was designed to illustrate this point.

He commended squad members who had been deemed deserving and extended offers of service, encouraging them to do so with zeal, diligence, and commitment.

Additionally, he recommended that they comply with established protocols and the code of ethics that govern their activities.

“Members of the anti-touting squad shall work in conjunction with the Nigerian Armed Forces, whose primary duty it is to ensure the security of the state,” stated Soludo.

“The formation of the squad expedites the fulfilment of a critical commitment we made to the inhabitants of the greater Onitsha region—Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru, Oyi, and Idemili—to reinstate the illustrious reputation of Anambra State as the ‘Light of the Nation’ and restore law and order.”

At the time of our inauguration, eight local government areas had been seized. Ordinance has been reinstated in those local government areas as a result of the combined efforts of our security agencies and the vigilante service, with their assistance.

Soludo, on the other hand, exhorted the populace to consistently bear in mind and implement the campaign adage “if you see something, you say something.”

As per his assertion, phone numbers ought to be provided to members of the public so they may notify the government of any instances of solicitation they observe in the vicinity.

He cautioned all market chairmen and stated that any market still occupied by marketers would be dissolved and its chairmen would be removed from office. Moreover, he insisted that each market chairman bear responsibility for the situation.

“We have instructed the youths to emerge from their bush hideouts.” We shall assist in their rehabilitation and societal integration so that they may contribute positively to their families, communities, states, and countries.

“Alongside our larger-scale efforts to combat hoodlums, we will also confront touts in the Onitsha metropolitan area and Anambra State at large.”

“Our conflict is to restore the essence of a law-and-order society; not one in which individuals engage in arbitrary behaviour without regard for the consequences of their actions.”

“Touts annoy patrons who travel from every corner of the nation.” However, the purpose of this expedition is to revitalise Onitsha as a commercial centre and the state of Anambra as a whole, he continued.