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Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State
The Delta State Government has ordered the arrest of illegal revenue collectors who have been extorting and harassing truck drivers along the Federal Highway at Anifekede, Ika South Local Government Area.
The Union of Tippers and Quarry Employers of Nigeria raised the alarm on Thursday in Asaba, accusing these unauthorised individuals of targeting trucks transporting granite from Edo State to Delta State.
The Chairman of the union, Mr. Wilson Ogbachi, spoke out on Thursday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, accusing illegal revenue collectors of extorting money and brutalising truck drivers along the Federal Highway at Anifekede, Ika South Local Government Area.
Ogbachi revealed that these unauthorised individuals set up checkpoints on the Benin-Asaba highway at locations such as Alifekede and Agbor, where they target trucks transporting granite from quarry sites in Edo to Delta State.
The extortionists use dangerous weapons, including woods with nails, to force truck drivers to pay a “road passage fee.”
He said, “We are crying to the governor and other authorities to come to our aid and rescue us from the daily extortion and harassment of our members who convey granite along Federal highway from Edo to Delta State.
“These illegal collectors collect revenue from trucks conveying granite/stones from quarry sites in Edo to Delta State.
“They mount checkpoints along the Benin-Asaba highway, at Alifekede, Agbor, Delta State; they stop tippers conveying granite, using woods with nails and other dangerous weapons to compel truck drivers to pay road passage fee.
“They collect money from us and issue us two receipts; one of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue while the other receipt bears directorate of transport. Sometimes, they use their wood to shatter our glasses and beat drivers.”
Efforts made to reach the Chairman of Ika South, Mr Jerry Ehiwario, and the Chairman of Delta State Revenue Task Force, Mr Malachi, failed as calls and messages sent to them were not responded to as of the time of filling this report.
But when contacted, the Executive Director (Operation), Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Frank Nwagu, said the revenue collectors at the Anifekede spot operated illegally and should be arrested.
“We did not send them, and we are not aware of the receipt, they are operating illegally and should be arrested,” he said.
