From Joseph Obukata, Warri
Some men posing as revenue taskforce have been arrested after Delta Government officials dislodged illegal revenue points in Sapele, Oghara and Koko communities of the state.
The illegal taskforce men were surrounded up by the operatives of the Delta State Task Force on Road Taxes and Revenue Leakages on Wednesday.
This is coming few days after some suspected thugs claiming to be NURTW’s taskforce reportedly attacked several mini bus drivers at Ugbolokposo junction, Effurun, Ovwie Council Area, over attempt to protest increments of daily ticket from N500 to N600.
Daily Sun reports that the clamp down was part of efforts to rid the state of illegal taskforce that have been causing menace in many part of the state.
The clamp down, according to an official became necessary as a result of the activities of the illegal revenue task forces which he said had become notorious, and giving the state a bad image.
Some of those arrested claimed that they have the concert of their community leaders in doing what they do on the road.
In his reactions, the State Coordinator Task Force on Road Taxes and Revenue Leakages, Mr. Malachi Moye, decried the activities of illegal taskforce personnel in the state saying government would no longer tolerate their nefarious actions.
Moye who spoke after a major raid in Koko junction, Warri North Local Government Area, warned those behind the illegal task forces to desist or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.
He noted that several complaints of harassment of road users had reached the state government and that the illegal activities of these task forces must stop.
Some motorists interviewed commended the intervention of the state government, noting that travelling along major highways in the state had become a nightmare on account of the activities of the illegal task forces.
Recall that the Secretary to the State Government Chief Patrick Ukah had in a statement on June 29th, 2022, warned of dire consequences for operators of illegal revenue task forces operating within the state.
While pointing out that revenue collection in the state was the responsibility of the State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Moye advised those desirous of becoming revenue agents to seek the approval of the Revenue Service before embarking on any form of revenue collection.
The task force coordinator said that the operation would be extended to all parts of the state, stressing that those arrested would be charged to court within a few days.