Rivers Taskforce Invade Iron Rod Shops

It was a pitiable sight on Thursday, August 18, 2022, at Kala Iron Rod Dealers’ Market, Rumuokwuta in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, when members of the Rivers State Taskforce on street trading invaded the Building Materials Market, at about 10am, wreaking havoc in the process.
The onslaught which was said to have started in a restaurant in the market, soon escalated to destruction of drinks, tables, looting of cash, hot drinks, handsets and vandalization of vehicles and trucks of customers that either came to buy goods or brought materials .
While the looting spree was going on, the Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Officers attached to the Taskforce were said to be shooting indiscriminately, apparently to sear people away, and thereby providing cover for the Taskforce team on their illegal mission.
At the end of the day, millions of Naira worth of goods were said to have been stolen, plus physical cash in the invaded shops and vehicles vandalized .
Speaking to journalists who visited the scene, shortly after the incident, the Chairman of the Iron Rod Dealers Association, Davidson Chukwuebuka narrated their ordeal, which he said was horrifying, considering the fact that his members are law-abiding and do not owe Government any revenue.
Chukwuebuka said he was alerted by the sporadic gunshots from the security men attached to the Rivers State Taskforce and tried to find out what the matter was, but received no answer from the rampaging taskforce team, who he said assaulted him in the process.
The Chairman lamented that goods worth millions of Naira were destroyed by the taskforce team,as well as customers’ cash stolen.
According to him,when he ran to the nearby Kala Police Station for help they shut their gates against him on the ground that the Taskforce team were being led by an ASP and the Police officers were also armed.
“We’ve never seen this kind of attack or incident before, Rivers State Taskforce team on illegal street trading came and were carrying cartons of drinks from that Restaurant woman and I tried to find out what was the matter and got no response. They instead went violent, breaking bottles and smashing the tables and as they were destroying the properties of the woman, the police and civil defense Officers attached to the team were busy shooting guns indiscriminately.
“Look at those vehicles parked there, their windscreens were hit by broken bottles and flying bullets from the security operatives attached to the Taskforce. And there was no reason given
for this kind of affront and we are law-abiding citizens. We pay all our taxes and levies, we are not owing any levies or taxes as to warrant this kind of assault, “Chukwuebuka lamented.
Also speaking to journalists, the owner of the restaurant, who identified herself as Chinasa Nwosu recounted how all her sales money for the day, handsets, expensive hot drinks and other valuables were looted by the rampaging taskforce team, without any provocation whatsoever.
Another victim and a customer who said he came to buy iron rods, who identified himself as Chinedu Nwosu narrated how his two vehicles, Avalon and Sienna were vandalized by the taskforce boys, who he alleged carted away the sum of N2.7m he brought to purchase iron rods.
“Look at what the taskforce boys did, they smashed my two vehicles, Avalon and Sienna and stole my N2.7m I brought to buy iron rods. You can see I’m shaking, who do I hold now and who will repair the damaged vehicles?” he cried out.