Gov Ortom Tackles Illegal Tax Collectors On Makurdi-Gboko Road
- Says no more extorting of traders, truck drivers
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Saturday morning carried out his threat against illegal tax operators in the state after running into a group that barricaded the Makurdi-Gboko road at Abinsi village.
The Governor, who was heading to Gboko for an official function, had stopped over at Abinsi on sighting stationary trucks loaded with various products whose drivers were being extorted by the illegal revenue collectors.
One of the governor’s aides told reported that; “Angered by what he saw, the Governor alighted from his car and directed his security aides to arrest the criminals but they all immediately fled the scene and disappeared into a nearby bush.
“He directed the dismantling of the blockade that was erected on the road by the gang and ensured that all the trucks laden with goods that were held up by the criminals drove off safely.
“The Governor also vowed that he would personally intensify surveillance on that illegal checkpoint in order to apprehend the criminals.”
According to reports, the development marks the second time within the last four months that Governor Ortom is confronting the criminal groups at the same spot on the busy highway where they mount a blockade to collect illegal revenue from road users.
Earlier in the week, the Governor had, shortly after signing into law the amended Benue Internal Revenue Administration Law, condemned the activities of illegal tax collectors on Benue roads, warning those involved to steer clear of the state or be treated as armed robbers when apprehended.
Equally, the Executive Chairman of Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Mrs. Mimi Adzape-Orubibi had raised an alarm over the group’s activities, noting that their mode of operations smacks of armed robbery that ultimately discourages farm produce traders from coming to Benue State because of unlawful multiple taxations. – With the Vanguard report
