Joint operatives of the Monitoring and Compliance Unit in the Office of the Imo State Governor and the Imo State Internal Revenue Service (IIRS) have arrested several fake revenue collectors operating within the Owerri Capital Territory.
The arrests, carried out on Monday, followed a coordinated intelligence-led operation at multiple locations, including Aba-Owerri Road, Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Junction, and the border axis between Aba and Imo State.
While the exact number of individuals apprehended was not disclosed, officials confirmed that the suspects were caught in the act of collecting illegal cash payments, issuing forged receipts, and using a fraudulent version of the IIRS mobile application.
The operation was led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Chinasa Nwaneri.
He revealed that despite prior warnings issued to illegal revenue agents, some persisted in their illicit activities, extorting unsuspecting members of the public at strategic points across the city.
“These individuals were extorting citizens, using fake documents and a cloned app to deceive their victims,” Nwaneri said.
“Their arrest is part of the state government’s broader initiative to sanitize the revenue system, eliminate economic sabotage, and support Governor Hope Uzodimma’s commitment to transparent fiscal reforms.”
The suspects have since been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
In an official statement issued after the arrests, the Imo State Government reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on unauthorized revenue collection.
The statement emphasized that no individual or group has been authorized to collect revenue on behalf of the government manually. It also stressed the continued enforcement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy, which mandates that all payments to the state be made electronically and directly into government accounts.
“The Imo State Government reiterates its firm stance against unauthorized revenue collection. Anyone found engaging in such illegal practices will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the laws of the state,” the statement read.
Residents and business owners were urged to report suspicious revenue activities through the government’s official hotlines, as the administration works toward building a safer, more accountable, and economically vibrant Imo State.
