An activist in Onitsha, Mr Justus Ijeoma, yesterday said that the level of extortion and intimidation of business men and women in Onitsha and its environs were unacceptable.

Ijeoma told The Tide  that the prevailing situation portrayed government as lacking the will-power to contain the excesses of street urchins, proscribed groups and community youths.

“Onitsha is witnessing the highest height of daylight forceful extortion by unauthorised revenue collectors,’’ he said.

According to him, while Governor Peter Obi administration’s has been applauded for his great development strides, one of the deficiencies has been the failure to check excesses of extortionists.

“In parts of Obosi, Onitsha and Ogbaru, residents, traders and businessmen are under the siege of pseudo militant youths and street boys who make their living by causing untold havoc to other people.

“These boys, operating under the banner of MASSOB, Igbo Youths, Onitsha Ado Youths, Obosi Youths, Ogbaru Youths and Fegge Youths, have become a menace to the people, while the government seems to look the other way.

“They issue all manners of receipts with no valid addresses, while in most cases they collect money by force and threat,’’ he said.

Ijeoma, who is also the Legal Secretary of Civil Liberties Organisation in Anambra, said that a shadow government was now operating in Obosi community.

He alleged that jobless youths, brandishing fake identity cards, logs of woods and other dangerous weapons, were daily extorting monies from the unsuspecting members of the public.

“They collect tolls from vehicles, while any uncooperative driver is dealt with seriously,” he said.

Ijeoma also alleged that Fegge boys and others, who claimed to be MASSOB members, held sway within the main market and adjoining areas.

He said that the state government seemed to be overwhelmed by the criminals in Onitsha and environs.

Ijeoma advised the state government to adopt a social policy geared towards eliminating the various groups involved in the extortion.

“There is need to have an effective committee against touting peopled by men of sound reasoning and integrity who will not only arrest, but prosecute all the hoodlums,’’ he said.