Authorities in Abia State have shut down a fake revenue ring in Aba, arresting two suspects and recovering ₦766,000 that was collected illegally from residents. The sting operation was carried out by the Abia State Harmonised Task Force (ASHTF) in partnership with the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Officials say the syndicate had been issuing fake revenue notices and forcing unsuspecting citizens to pay cash outside approved government channels.
The raid happened at Block 6, Green House, inside the Osisioma Local Government Headquarters. The action followed a flood of complaints about suspicious demand notices circulating in the city. Acting on instructions from the Governor’s Special Adviser on IGR, Emmanuel Okpechi, the team moved door-to-door to verify the authenticity of the bills residents received. Their checks confirmed the presence of fake agents who had been intimidating residents and seizing belongings illegally.
According to ASHTF spokesperson Miracle Chukwunenye, the fake officials not only issued forged documents but also confiscated properties without any legal approval. Once intelligence was confirmed, task force officers stormed the area, arrested the suspects, and rescued two victims who were being pressured to pay. The cash recovered is believed to be part of the money forcefully collected from multiple individuals in the area.
Officials stressed that the suspects did not remit any money to the state and acted completely outside the law. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities say more arrests may follow. The government emphasized that the crackdown is part of its efforts to stop fraud and protect citizens from exploitation.
Uche Wogu, the Aba Area Coordinator for the task force, encouraged residents to always confirm payment demands and only pay through authorised channels. He reminded business owners and landlords that legitimate government payments must go through official receipts and recognised platforms—not cash to individuals. The state government assured citizens that anyone caught defrauding the public in the name of revenue collection will face prosecution.
