Luxury Bus Owners Partner Abia Govt to Eradicate Drug Consumption, Other Crimes in Aba

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON) in conjunction with Abia government have launched a Security Taskforce to eradicate hard drug consumption and other crimes at the Aba park.

The Executive Chairman, Aba South Local Government Area, Mr Obilor Anyanwu announced the partnership on Saturday while inaugurating the security Taskforce at the Milverton Road luxury bus terminal.

He said the Security Taskforce was established to address two key responsibilities of Abia government which are security of lives and property and the ease of doing business.

He noted that the ease of doing business cannot be feasible without a functioning transportation system.

Anyanwu lamented that from the Milverton Road luxury bus terminal, a dangerous criminal gang was growing and expanding to other parts of Aba.

He said the criminal activities which included open hard drug sales and consumption, snatching of people’s belongings and even rape were going on.

Anyanwu said the criminal activities hampered businesses and created bad impressions of Abia before visitors who had been victims hence the need to stop them now.

“Today, on Milverton Road and around the main park, hard drug consumption is practiced openly, stealing, even rape and other crimes are perpetrated along Asa Road, East by Milverton Road, York Street.

“People can no longer come out as early as 4:30 am to beat early transportation targets.

“It has now become worrisome because dangerous spots exists on Milverton Road where the criminals hide but we shall fish them out and nip such activities .” He said.

Anyanwu warned Taskforce members against passing information to the criminals to enable them attack the park’s functionaries stressing that government will make such a member regret his birth.

“My message is simple; in our local parlance we say “We cannot avoid killing a mosquito because we don’t want our palm to be dented with blood.”

“Anybody who wants to continue feeding on crime should please leave Aba and Abia state because we cannot cede any inch of this town or state to any criminal.” He said.

Anyanwu said the state was willing to reintegrate such criminals who genuinely wanted to change into the society.

Earlier, the ALBON Chairman, Abia chapter, Chibueze Chikelu said the initiative was born out of the desire to benefit visitors and indigenes of Abia.

He said the association members decided to end every kind of criminal activity on Milverton Road hosting Aba’s luxury bus Park and asked for government’s assistance.

He urged jobless persons hanging around the park to commit crimes to find a job and be creatively engaged.

The Divisional Police Officer, Central Police Station, Aba, Superintendent Chidiebere Okpaleke said the essence of the Taskforce was to ensure security.

Okpaleke who noted that without security, there cannot be any meaningful development, urged the Taskforce members to work within the ambit of the law.

He promised working with them and asked them report all security threats to security agencies within Aba and to abide by the code of conduct for the Taskforce.

The Aba South Labour Party Chairman, Mmaju Egbegbu promised the state would support the Taskforce to serve unrepentant criminals nightmares.

He noted that whenever Aba residents agreed to jointly deal with criminals, they succeeded.