A bill to stop touting and related issues in all sectors has successfully gone through a third reading and been accepted as a law at the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze, led the plenary meeting.
The lawmaker representing the Ekwusigo constituency, Ikenna Ofodeme, who proposed the bill, motioned for the third reading and approval.
It was then supported by the Minority Leader, Johnbosco Akaebobi, following necessary adjustments made during the 'Committee of the Whole'.
This comes after a video spread on social media showing members of the State Anti-touts Special Squad brutalizing and torturing Wilfred Ezike with short pestles and other objects for an undisclosed offense.
Talking in an interview after the Assembly's plenary, the bill's sponsor, Ofodeme, said, “Every day, people in Anambra are complaining about the problem of touting in the state.
“When you talk about touts, some people think that it is just the one at the Onitsha main market. There are corporate touts at the Immigration, FRSC and other organizations and agencies.
“This has had a major impact on Anambra State and that is why we have not been able to increase our IGR. This is what prompted the introduction of this bill.
“We are aiming to close all the loopholes because the touts have become criminals.
“The Anambra State Anti-Touts Special Squad is the only way we could increase IGR. It is another way to easily get most of these criminals arrested and hand them over to appropriate agencies.
“The reason we placed SASA under the Ministry of Homeland is not because we forgot that the Ministry of Jomeland is strictly addressing issues of vigilante and boundary matters, but once those criminals are arrested, they will be handed over to vigilantes.
“The law has cleared the state executive and House of Assembly as we never approved torture. We have penalties for those criminals.
After concluding the day's business, the house then adjourned until Thursday, April 11, 2024.