Massive jubilation broke out on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Eke-Owo Market and Eke-Obinagu Market as the Peter Mbah Market Monitoring Team raided the markets and arrested suspected illegal tax collectors accused of extorting traders under the guise of community levies.
The enforcement operation, carried out following intelligence reports and complaints from traders, was led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Market Liaison, Hon. Dr. Chinedu Mbah, alongside security operatives and members of the market monitoring team.
Traders who witnessed the operation erupted in cheers and excitement as the suspected illegal revenue agents, described as non-state actors, were apprehended and handed over to the police for further interrogation and prosecution.
Many traders openly hailed Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, describing him as “Godsent” for coming to their rescue after years of alleged harassment, intimidation, and multiple taxation by unauthorized revenue collectors operating in the markets.
The atmosphere in both markets reportedly turned celebratory as traders sang, applauded the enforcement team, and praised the governor’s determination to protect small business owners from extortion and illegal levies. Some traders declared that Governor Mbah’s administration had restored hope and sanity to market activities across Enugu State.
Several traders also assured the governor of their continued support, insisting that there would be “no vacancy in 2027” because of what they described as his people-oriented leadership and commitment to the welfare of ordinary citizens.
Addressing market leaders and traders during the exercise, Hon. Dr. Chinedu Mbah reiterated Governor Peter Mbah’s resolve to completely eradicate illegal taxation, fake ticketing, extortion, and every form of unauthorized revenue collection across markets in the state.
He warned that no individual, community, or group has the authority to impose levies on traders outside the officially approved revenue structure of the Enugu State Government, stressing that anyone caught engaging in such acts would face the full weight of the law.
The SSA further recalled that Governor Mbah had earlier abolished daily toll collections from petty traders without lockup shops as part of efforts to reduce hardship and support low-income earners and small-scale businesses.
Hon. Dr. Mbah also reminded stakeholders that the governor had repeatedly warned non-state actors and illegal revenue agents to stay away from markets, maintaining that the state government would not tolerate any form of exploitation of traders.
In a further move to strengthen market security and accountability, the SSA shared his contact details with market leaders and encouraged traders to immediately report any case of fraudulent activities, fake receipts, illegal levies, harassment, or extortion for swift government intervention.
The arrested suspects have since been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution, while the market monitoring team reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the crackdown on illegal taxation and multiple levies across Enugu State.
