RABIU Garba, the Fegge Divisional Police Officer, has declared roadside trading as a criminal offence and a contravention of the law.

Garba explained in an interview with Anambra Information Officer when alerted about evacuation of street traders by security personnel.

He criticised the level of road blockages by traders and street hawkers, saying, “ it is a rotten activity’’.

The officer observed, “it is the work of a policeman to stop street trading or to arrest such people’’.

Meanwhile, some security operatives were seen evacuating street traders on Ziks Avenue-Ochanja Roundabout-Iweka Road and other major roads in Onitsha.

These roads were blocked by traders and street hawkers.

The report noted that blocking of streets had become habitual for some traders; most of who see it as their right to display ware indiscriminately and even restricts human and vehicular movement.

There is a subsisting law in Anambra State prohibiting street trading or hawking on roads. This is to stem road accidents.

– Dec 8, 2017 @ 17:21 GMT |