APGA backs Soludo’s SASA, chides market leaders for shielding Ndi Agbero

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has backed the setting up of Special Anti-Touting Squad ( SASA) by the Anambra State Government, saying that no amount of blackmail will stop the operatives from ridding the state of touts, otherwise called Agbero.

The National Coordinator of APGA Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, stated this In a statement on Sunday.

He said,” It’s very important for some corrupt market leaders to know that SASA operatives have come to stay and that no amount of blackmail will stop them from ridding Anambra State of touts and nipping the nefarious activities of agberos in the bud.”

He said since SASA operatives came into existence, the good people of Anambra State had heaved a sigh of relief from unnecessary harassment and intimidation by touts and other hoodlums.

Obigwe said,” Our people now go to markets to make their purchase without fear of being harassed and molested by agberos.

“You can now buy things from our markets without being forced to pay illegal fees that end up in the pockets of some corrupt market leaders.

“Governor Soludo promised to rid Anambra State of agberos and he is using SASA operatives to fulfil that promise but it’s now obvious that some corrupt market leaders are not happy with the good work SASA operatives are doing.

“The unfortunate incident that happened at Ogbo ogu that has to do with the shooting of an innocent trader clearly showed that the leadership of Ogbo ogu market and their Vigilante operatives are profiting from the nefarious activities of agberos at that head bridge.

Continuing, Obigwe said, “The attempt they( market leaders) made to frame up SASA operatives over the shooting of the innocent trader is condemnable.

“It was the security operatives of Ogbo ogu market that resisted the attempt of SASA operatives to arrest a tout that ran into their market.

“They connived with some uninformed traders to launch an attack against the unarmed SASA operatives with acid and the Vigilante operatives of the market shot sporadically in an attempt to ensure that the SASA operatives fail in effecting the arrest of the fleeing tout that ran into ogbo ogu market.”

Obigwe said taking a decisive action against the leadership of the market and their security operatives would go a long way in sending a message to other market leaders that it would no longer be business as usual.

He said the most annoying part of the whole saga was the attempt to twist the story and frame up SASA operatives, adding that unfortunately for those making a futile attempt to frame up SASA operatives, the trader that sustained gun shot injury did not die rather he was recuperating in an undisclosed hospital.

Obigwe further said,” The truth is that the security operatives of Ogbo Ogu market need to be arrested and properly investigated over that shooting incident and our beloved Governor Soludo also needs to take a decisive action against the leadership of Ogbo ogu market over the attack of SASA operatives in their market. So that it will serve as a lesson to other market leaders.