Newspaper distributors in Awka, the Anambra State capital commenced an
\nindefinite strike over alleged harassment and extortion by the Operation
\nClean and Healthy Anambra State Brigade, otherwise known as Obiano
\npolice.<\/p>\n
Speaking with our correspondent, the chairman of the distributors in
\nAwka, Emeka Nweze said his members would discontinue distribution of
\nnewspapers and magazines in the area until the state government assured
\nthem of their safety in the state.<\/p>\n
He said their tables and umbrellas had been confiscated by the OCHA
\nBrigade while their members were being molested and beaten up by the
\nagency’s officials.<\/p>\n
Stating that they rendered essential services to the people the state,
\nthe group wondered why the incessant harassment by the government
\nagency.<\/p>\n
They said they had written and complained to various government offices
\nin the state, including the office of the Secretary to the State
\nGovernment, to no avail.<\/p>\n
Their petition to SSG sighted by our correspondent read in part,
\n“We are constrained to write this petition to solicit your intervention
\nin the nightmare; we have been passing through in the hands of the
\nofficials of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra State (OCHA),
\nBrigade for a long time.<\/p>\n
” The officials of the agency have been clamping down on our members,
\nintimidating and harassing us at our various Newspapers’ sales
\nspots\/stands, and, even seizing the items we use in displaying our
\nnewspapers, and, a times trying to extort money from us.<\/p>\n
“Our various Newspapers’ Sales spots\/stands were designated and approved
\nby an agency of the state government, Anambra State Environmental
\nSanitation Agency.<\/p>\n
” Following the incessant clamp-down on our members, and, seizure of our
\nsales items, especially tables and umbrellas, by the OCHA Brigade
\nofficials, we decided to visit the management of the agency at their
\noffice\u00a0 where we met the Director, Mr. Douglas Okafor.<\/p>\n
“After listening to our complaints, the Director told us that it was
\nwrong for the taskforce officials to seize our materials, saying that
\nthe agency does not normally disturb newspaper vendors.”<\/p>\n
The group expressed surprise that the same\u00a0 OCHA Brigade boss turned
\nround to become their major antagonist.<\/p>\n
Efforts to reach the OCHA Brigade boss did not yield any result as his
\ntelephone indicated ” switched off”.<\/p>\n
The state\u00a0 Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don
\nAdinuba, said he would take up the matter with OCHA Brigade boss with a
\nview to resolving it immediately.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Newspaper distributors in Awka, the Anambra State capital commenced an indefinite strike over alleged harassment and extortion by the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra State Brigade, otherwise known as Obiano…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37924,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n