Ortom chases illegal tax collectors off Gboko road

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State yesterday personally cleared a gang of illegal revenue collectors operating along the Gboko-Makurdi Highway. Ortom had about 10 days ago warned that his administration would begin to treat illegal tax collectors who are caught in the act like armed robbers, saying their activities were against motorists and the government. […]

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State yesterday personally cleared a gang of illegal revenue collectors operating along the Gboko-Makurdi Highway.

Ortom had about 10 days ago warned that his administration would begin to treat illegal tax collectors who are caught in the act like armed robbers, saying their activities were against motorists and the government.

But, despite the warning, some of those involved in the illegality still blocked the roads to extort money from innocent motorists conveying agricultural products from the state to other parts of the country.

Ortom was on his way from Makurdi to Gboko for a function on Saturday morning when he stopped over at Abinsi on sighting stationary trucks loaded with various products whose drivers were being extorted by the illegal revenue collectors who put a blockade on the road. 

Ortom and with support of his security aides cleared the illegal blockade but could not arrest any of the operators as they took to their heels.

He stressed that he would personally intensify surveillance on the checkpoint in order to apprehend the perpetrators.