The Imo State Government has announced a ban on all forms of task forces operating in the state.
In a press statement issued by I.A. Oguzie on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, it was stated that the ban became inevitable following incessant reports from the public alleging intimidation and extortion by task force groups.
He stated that the actions of the task force tend to ridicule the image of the government before the public, hence the ban on all forms of task forces operating in the state, especially within the Owerri metropolis.
“Following the approval of His Excellency on the issue, the government therefore warns that anyone or any group operating as a task force under any guise will be apprehended by security agencies, who have been directed to get rid of all task forces in the state. Such culprits will be made to face the full weight of the law,” the release stated.
Oguzie, in the press release, added that the decision is aimed at curbing lawlessness and restoring public confidence in Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration, maintaining that the dissolution of the task force takes immediate effect.
The affected groups include all task forces operating under any guise or within any Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA) in the state.
He pointed out that the step taken will help curtail the rampant proliferation of unregulated groups, particularly in the transport sector and marketplaces, which, he stated, have long plagued citizens with illegal demands without the express permission or approval of the state government.
Oguzie further used the medium to advise members of the public to take note and comply accordingly.
Reacting to the dissolution of the task force, a public analyst, Ugochukwu Eze, said the decision of the state government is timely, remarking that over the years, task forces in the state have mushroomed into a troubling phenomenon, especially within the transport sector and marketplaces.
He said that originally, the groups were intended to enforce regulations and maintain order but regretted that they had veered off from their primary assignments, turning into extortionists imposing arbitrary fines and harassing citizens.
