3 hours ago
1 ARTICLE AD
The Edo State chapter of the Union of Tippers and Quarry Employers of Nigeria has raised the alarm over illegal revenue collectors who extort and harass its members in Delta State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that these illegal revenue collectors, stationed daily along the federal highway at the Anifekede spot in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, not only extort money from but also brutalise truck drivers.
The Chairman of the Union, Mr Wilson Ogbachi, disclosed this on Thursday in Asaba, the Delta State capital, calling on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to address the issue.
He said, “We are appealing to the governor and other authorities to come to our aid and rescue us from the daily extortion and harassment of our members who transport granite along the federal highway from Edo to Delta State.
“These illegal collectors are hired by the Ika South Local Government Chairman to collect revenue from trucks transporting granite and stones from quarry sites in Edo to Delta State.
“They set up checkpoints along the Benin-Asaba highway at Alifekede, Agbor, Delta State, and stop tippers carrying granite. Armed with nail-studded planks and other dangerous weapons, they compel truck drivers to pay road passage fees not approved by any revenue law.
“They collect money from us and issue two receipts: one with the Delta State Internal Revenue Board’s name and the other with the Directorate of Transport. Sometimes, they use their weapons to damage our vehicles and assault drivers.”
The union accused the Ika South Local Government Chairman and the Chairman of the Delta State Revenue Taskforce, Mr Malachi, of being responsible for these illegal activities and issuing false receipts.
Efforts to contact the Chairman of Ika South LGA, Mr Jerry Ehiwario, and the Chairman of the Delta State Revenue Taskforce, Mr Malachi, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to them went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
However, when contacted, the Executive Director of Operations at the Delta State Internal Revenue Board, Mr Frank Nwagu, confirmed the illegality of the activities and called for the perpetrators to be apprehended.
“We did not authorise these individuals, and we are not aware of the receipts they are issuing. They are operating illegally and should be arrested,” he said.
