The Story, Editor-In-Chief, on Monday 21st September 2020, ran into members of the Delta State Taskforce on Environment, stationed by the junction of the newspapers distribution center, by a newspaper stand, along Nnebisi road, Asaba, allegedly extorting money from street hawkers who either carries their wares on their heads or selling with wheelbarrows.
The about seven taskforce officials, has six males and a female who intercepts street traders who hawks along the popular Nnebisi road in Asaba, the capital of the state.
Two of the taskforce officials, a male and the only female, were on mufti, from observation, the female only puts on her uniform when there is a prey to apprehend.
A young boy who hawks plastic buckets was intercepted and the sum of N300.00 was allegedly extorted from him after serious plea.
Another young man who was hawking air freshener, was allegedly extorted of N500 before they allowed him out of their net.
Also, the taskforce officials purportedly took N1000.00 from an Igbo man who hawks bedsheets, after he wept profusely before them that he has not sold much.
When asked his name his declined for fear of been victimized by the taskforce officials but confirmed to The Story, Editor-In-Chief, that the sum of N1000.00 was allegedly taken from him.
The female taskforce official with unkept hair, light in complexion dressed on the taskforce uniform with a skyblue Jean treasurer and a black sports canvas shoe, who spoke with him told him that she needed to do her hair, threatening him to comply or his wares would be moved to the State Secretariat where they have their office.
Similarly, the male taskforce official who also is on mufti, a white shirt on black treasure, accosted another hawker with wheelbarrow which caused a stir from passerbys.
At this point, when approached to enquire on why hawkers were being held, the skinny but dark in complexion man said: “Go and ask the governor. Nobody is allowed to hawk along the road”.
At press time, calls and text message sent to the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Chris Onogba, were not responded to.
