The repeated attacks on its personnel and the damage to its vehicles by touts and other alleged lawbreakers in the state have alarmed the Abia State Harmonised Task Force (ASHTF).
In a press statement provided to reporters, Uzor Nwachukwu, the Harmonised Task Force’s chairman and commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, sounded the alarm.
He went on to say that touts and other harassed lawbreakers have been posing an unreasonable threat to Harmonised Task Force officers.
Nwachukwu promised that anybody seen attacking members of the Harmonised Task Force or damaging their property would face severe repercussions and that they would face legal action without the possibility of a fine.
“Given experiences of unjustified threats and assaults to our personnel in the course of duty and destruction of taskforce properties and vehicles by accosted law offenders and touts, the Abia state Harmonized taskforce hereby declares that the full weight of the law shall henceforth be brought to bear upon such mindless perpetrators and lawbreakers without compromise.
“Perpetrators of assaults on our personnel and those who damage our properties or vehicles shall face dire consequences that serve as enduring deterrence, including full legal prosecution without the option of fine”, the press release said.