By Okechukwu Okechukwu
Controversy has trailed arrest of 35 persons suspected to be drug addicts, peddlers and abusers in Anambra State.
The Anambra State Government Joint Security Taskforce (JTF), which arrested the suspects, alleged that some of them were arrested in connection with drugs peddling and hemp smoking, extortion of money from motorists, picking pocket, one chance and others.
But some of them interviewed by journalists said they were arrested either while trekking along the road or sleeping in an open place.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO), Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade), Mr Anthony Agbafune, who stated this while parading the suspects in Awka, the Anambra State capital, said the agency carried out the arrest in collaboration with the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) and others.
According to him, the taskforce would "move those suspects involved 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 further maintained that the agency led by Mr Celestine Annere as Managing Director, was committed to eradicating the state off the nuisance inline with the governor's dream of clean and healthy Anambra state.
One of the suspects, Mr. Mike Agara from Taraba state said he smokes hemp but does not sell them.
Also speaking, another suspect, Mr Ekene Eze, from Enugu state admitted that he deals on mkpurumiri and others but always sake them to truck drivers to help them not to sleep while driving.
According to Eze, selling drugs was because he has no job and did not want to become armed robber.
Another suspect, Mr Chima Abigwe from lmo State, said he was arrested where he was sleeping in an open place because he does not have a home in Onitsha where he lives.
On his part, Mr Chukwuemeka Chukwunoso 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 because he 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 .