Following insinuations in some quarters that operatives of the Rivers State Task Force on Illegal Street Trading, Motor Parks and Mechanics had allegedly hacked an illegal bureau de change operator around the GRA Junction/Presidential Hotel/Rumuola axis of Port Harcourt to death over unexplained disagreements during a purported raid, the leadership of the task force has debunked the claim, and clearly exonerated its members from any misconduct or wrongdoing within the circumference.
A statement signed, yesterday, by the Special Adviser to the Governor of Rivers State on Illegal Street Trading/Motor Parks/Mechanics, Hon. Bright Amaewhule, made it abundantly clear that members of the task force were never involved in any scuffle or fight with any Hausa business operator in the state that resulted in the death of anyone.
The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to the recent rumours being circulated round Port Harcourt and its environs regarding the alleged killing of a Bureau de Change agent around Rumuola axis by members of the Rivers State Task Force on Illegal Street Trading/Illegal Motor Parks/Illegal Mechanics.
“I want to state categorically that the Rivers State Government did not initiate the task force to kill any of her citizens; rather it is aimed at restoring sanity and standard way of living amongst its citizens.
Therefore, the Rivers State Task Force on Illegal Street Trading/Illegal Motor Parks/Illegal Mechanics dissociates itself from such misleading information being peddled by those who seek to defame the Rivers State Government in such negative manner.
“I also want to inform the general public that the state government has already swung into action to actually know the cause of his death, therefore, we urge all to be law abiding and continue with their normal activities as everything is under control.
“Lastly, I want to send a strong warning to those peddling fake news about the Rivers State Task Force on Illegal Street Trading/Illegal Motor Parks/Illegal Mechanics to desist from such act or face the law if caught,” Amaewhule added.
Speaking later in an exclusive interview with The Tide, yesterday, Hon. Bright Amaewhule, in insisted that no member of the task force harassed or confronted any Hausa bureau de change operator in any part of the state capital, including the GRA area of Port Harcourt.
He said that the task force was poised to discharge its duties and responsibilities in a fair and civilised manner, adding that it would not yield to false claims and cheap blackmail by some disgruntled members of the public who do not want to obey the law of the state.
The state coordinator dismissed claims that members of the task force had arrested and were detaining some operators of illegal bureau de change outfits in the state, arguing that allegations of extortion by the task force were unfounded and had no basis.
The victim, whose name was not immediately known as at the time of this report, was confirmed dead following alleged harassment and beating by men of the task force who had raided the neighbourhood, believed to be a beehive of black market operators of foreign currency exchange.
The Tide gathered that immediately after the incident and the death of the victim, social media influencers quickly posted the picture of the deceased on various social media platforms, especially Facebook, which went viral, and drew spontaneous but aggressive response from fellow illegal bureau de change operators around the area, supported by area boys who took advantage of the situation to cause social disorder by barricading all roads around the area, including the ever-busy Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, Presidential Road and GRA Junction, leading into Tombia Street.
Following the protest by Hausa traders and hoodlums, there was palpable pandemonium around the GRA Junction/Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, through Rumuola Junction as riot police detachments were deployed to bring the situation under control, and clear the roads of debris to allow motorists and road users unhindered access to vehicular movement and guarantee their freedom of movement.
An eyewitness, who gave his name simply as Mr Chijioke, said: “The Zone 7 Team of the task force that has been troubling this area came here and killed a Hausa man. The man (victim) came from Slaughter area to this place to see his brother. While he was standing here, the task force guys came and held him. They searched him and collected the money in his pocket.
Chijioke, who is also a currency trader, said, “They started beating and dragging him on the floor. The man collapsed and died in their hands, and they all ran back into their vehicle and drove away. They didn’t know that the man was hypertensive”.
Another eyewitness, David Simon, explained that the task force visited the area regularly to arrest people and also force them to pay N120,000 as fine for operating illegal bureau de change in the area.
Simon stressed, “They came earlier and arrested an old man here. They took him and returned him later after beating him. We are not hawking, we only stand here and ask people if they want to change money, but this task force attacks us every day.
“When they come here and arrest anybody, the person will bail himself with N120,000.00. And they keep coming here to arrest people. Right now, they have over seven people they arrested here in their custody”, Simon added.
When contacted, the Rivers State Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident, quickly added that the police were still investigating the matter to determine the cause of death of the alleged currency dealer.
Omoni vowed to fish out those connected with the death of an operator of Bureau de Change, BDC, Ladan Yusuf, aged 75.
The police image maker said that the assurance became necessary to douse tension created by the incident that paralysed economic and social activities in Port Harcourt due to the protests by the Hausa Community in Port Harcourt over the death of their kinsman.
Earlier, the Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, Musa Saidu, who identified the victim, said the remains of the late Yusuf were to be buried yesterday in Port Harcourt according Islamic rites.