The Anambra State Government yesterday disowned those parading themselves as members of a taskforce on indecent dressing.

Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, stated this during a chat with reporters, describing the act as illegality targeted at tarnishing the image of the government.

Obinabo was reacting to a Facebook user’s narration of how a lady was held hostage at Upper-Iweka area of Onitsha over offence of not putting on bra.

According to the poster, the victim was accosted by some group of young men claiming to be Anambra State taskforce team for indecent dressing.

She alleged the victim paid N5,000 to the purported revenue collectors before regaining her freedom, urging Governor Chukwuma Soludo to make a categorical statement on the issue to clear if putting on bra was among revenue offences in the state.

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Warning those involved to desist from such acts, the Commissioner said they would be arrested and prosecuted as sexual molesters and armed robbers should they continue to harass women.

She said: “I appreciate all our talented youths, including the content creators. But if you’re into it, don’t use it to blackmail the state government.

“We discovered what they call male taskforce that are assigned to check and arrest women not putting on bra.

“Where is the person arrested? How can some persons claim they’re sent by the government to be collecting N5,000 from women not wearing bra just to tarnish the image of this administration?

“Yes, you have freedom of speech, but you don’t take advantage of that to blackmail people. The lady that started this, does she have proof?

“If the government starts coming after you now, you tag them as wicked. Please don’t do this again. Let the one done be the end.

“I want to tell all ladies, if you encounter anybody doing such, know that the Government has no hand in it. Those around should treat them as rapists, criminals and armed robbers.

“We have serious things to do, not to go after those wearing or not wearing bra. We’re absolutely not involved. Anyone caught will be prosecuted accordingly.”