Abia State Governor Alex Otti has ordered security agencies to investigate and arrest anyone involved in the harassment, illegal sealing of warehouses, or extortion of traders and shippers in the state. The directive was issued on Thursday during a meeting with members of the Abia State Shippers Association, led by Board of Trustees Chairman Olo Onuma, at the governor's office. Otti said he was hearing such complaints for the first time and stressed that no individual should unlawfully access or seal warehouses. "There is a government here. Any man who shows up in a warehouse and wants to break in or seal it illegally must be reported immediately," he said, insisting that all offenders be investigated and face legal consequences. He reaffirmed his administration's stance against lawlessness, particularly actions that disrupt economic activities. Otti also addressed the Abia Inland Dry Port project, describing it as strategic but in need of economic viability to attract users. Olo Onuma commended the governor's achievements but raised concerns about hoodlums allegedly working with some government officials to intimidate artisans, fabric dealers, and shoe and bag makers.
Governor Alex Otti's sudden attention to warehouse extortion suggests these incidents were not previously on his radar, despite ongoing business disruptions. If officials are indeed colluding with hoodlums, as Olo Onuma alleged, then the real test is whether arrests include those within government. A crackdown without internal accountability will only deepen distrust among traders who power Abia's informal economy. This moment reveals more about political awareness than immediate resolution.
