The Joint Taskforce (JTF) on security in Anambra State has arrested 35 persons alleged to engage in drug related crimes and sundry criminalities in the state.

They were arrested at different locations by the men of the JTF led-Operation Clean and Health Anambra (OCHA Brigade) in collaboration with theAnambra Vigilante Group, AVG.

The suspects were arrested in connection with drugs peddling and Indian hemp smoking, extortion of money from motorists, pick pocketers, one chance miscreants among others.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of OCHA Brigade, Mr Anthony Agbafune saidthat the agency wasdetermined to keep the state health and clean for the resident to live.

According to Agbafune, thosearrested were peopleterrorising the state and environ.

Those arrested he said, wereinvolved in robbing innocent citizens, selling hard drugs to youths, stealing andextorting money from the motorists.

He said that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo had given the team mandate to rid Anambra state ofthe bad eggs polluting the environment.

“We have the mandate of the governor to sanitisethe state and make ithabitable” he said.

Agbafune also stated that thesuspectswill be transferred to appropriate authority for arraignment.

“Wewill soon move those suspectsinvolved in drugs to National Drugs Law

Enforcement Agency( NDELA) ,Police and the Ministry of Justice for necessary actions. Our job is to pick the defaulters, document them and move them to the appropriate agency for necessary action” he stated.

He asserted that the agency was determined and committed to eradicating the state off the nuisance inline with the governor’s dream of clean and healthy Anambra state.

According to him, the Managing Director of Ocha brigade Mr. Celestine Annere has been committed to keeping the mandate of the agency.

He said that In the one year he has been piloting the affairs of the agency , a lot of positive things have happened interim of clearing Anambra off bad eggs.

Speaking to journalists, one of thesuspects Mr. Mike Agara from Taraba state said he smokes indianhemp but does not sell them.

According to him , the indian hemp found in his room does not belong to him but his brother who sells them.

Ikene Eze, from Enugu state also admitted that he deals on mkpurumiri and others ,noting thathe gets his supply from Imo State.

According to him, he is involved in the drugs business because he has no job and instead of becoming armed robber.

He said he sells to those big trucks driversbecause they use them when driving at night to avoid sleeping.

Chima Abigwe from lmo State,said he was arrested where he was sleeping in open place because he does not have a home in Onitsha where he lives.

ChukwuemekaChukwunoso from Anambra state,said he was arrested while walking to his house around 11pm because there were no vehicle at that time.

Onyekachi Atu, from Abia state said he was picked on the road while moving to his house at late hour.

On whether he was the only person on the road when he was arrested he said, he was arrested becausehe was not doing anything there.

Chukwurah Micheal, from Anambra state , who admitted of engaging in stealing people money and property in vehicles appeal forgiveness.

He said he was Involved in the act because he has not been work doing. (Saturday Independent: Text, Excluding Headline)