By; ARCHIBONG ESUENE, Makurdi
Acting Executive Chairman Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Emmanuel Agema has said that his men in collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force have arrested four illegal tax collectors in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
In a statement signed in Makurdi by his Media Assistant, Jacintha Bernard, the four suspects were apprehended while extorting money from petty traders at the Lafia park located at North Bank area of Makurdi.
According to the statement, the illegal tax collectors claimed to have belonged to Makurdi Local Government Area Market Committee, constituted to collect revenues across parks and markets in Makurdi.
The BIRS boss said that to ensure zero tolerance to criminal tendencies of some staff and to fight extortion, the board put in place some measures to tackle it, which has resulted not only in the increase in revenue profile, but also in blocking some of the lapses.
The chairman who commended security agencies for their efforts, explained that contact was made to the Care Taker Committee Chairman of Makurdi Local Government, Mr James Seem who strongly countered and disowned the illegal revenue collectors.
The BIRS Chairman who restated governor Alia’s determination to ensure that the era where illegal revenue collectors were having a field day have gone,”we are not going to pamper criminals in the state or have any business with them, so the police should commence full investigation into their activities”.
