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From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
Members of a local militia group in Benue State are threatening and extorting members of Torough Community in Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state after taxing them N20 million as dues.
Daily Sun gathered that following threats by the militia group to unleash mayhem on them if they fail to pay, the community members have long divided the money among themselves and commenced payments. It was also gathered that some members of the community had their livestock seized by the militia when the message was being delivered by the local warlords.
A resident from the area, who didn’t want to be named for fear of attack on his life and his family, said they had no option but to comply. He said some of them had to contact their relatives in the cities discreetly to get the money and pay on time. He said nobody in the village, including their village head, would dare report the matter to the security, in order not to incur the wrath of the group.
“We are more or less living in bondage here. There is no freedom of movement, association or expression.
These militia boys are very deadly and powerful here in our Sankera axis. The whole of three local governments in Sankera; Ukum, Logo and Katsina Ala, are affected by this madness. These boys have a very strong communication network for their business. They monitor everything.
“So, when the news about the N20 million came to us, nobody dared report to security agencies or you and your family would be eliminated from the surface of the earth in broad daylight. We are in bondage. The security operatives, too, are helpless. We are paying the N50,000 levied by each household. Some traditional compounds that have many households are levied N1 million,” he said.
The source regretted that even when they sold their farm produce, the militias collected the proceeds. He said, “most times, after they kill your loved one, they will still tax the family of the deceased to pay for their bullets and pay for burial permission fee before burial”.
Speaking to newsmen on phone, yesterday, the Caretaker Chairman of Ukum LGA, Victor Iorzaa, confirmed the development. He identified a militia kingpin named Full Force as being behind the act.
He said: “It’s true. Bandits are demanding N20 million from the locals. I have reported the matter to the police and, also, the state security council. The person behind it is Full Fire. He was the person that connived with Fulani recently to attack Tiv people, he has been working with Fulani people. He is a bandit.”
Iorzaa stated that the man, Full Fire, has been terrorising the area for the past five years until two weeks ago when the military launched an attack on his house. He lamented that the bandit started taxing the community members shortly after he lost the attack on the community and ran to stay at the border community with Taraba.
(Continued on www.sunnewsonline)
Asked if residents have actually started levying themselves to pay the tax, the caretaker chairman said: “They are living in fear. That community is the most troubled place in the LG. If one is going to the village, don’t be surprised that before you get there, the person will be attacked. But the governor is doing his best and the security operatives are also doing their best to curtail them,” he said.
When contacted, the state police command said they have no knowledge of the development.
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The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Catherine Anene, said if such happened, it was not reported to the command.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Governor on Security and Internal Affairs, Hyacinth Alia, said bandits were on the run in the state and could not have the luxury of collecting tax from the villagers. Chief Har said Alia’s administration was doing everything possible to mitigate activities of bandits, kidnappers and militia groups, amongst others in the state.
“The issue of these illegal levies has become a common practice with bandits everywhere worldwide because they use it to survive. However, only an irresponsible government will fold her hands and allow that callous thing to happen. The criminals have been having a very tough time recently, and they are really having the heat and can’t have the balls to wait and collect any tax.
“Most of them have fled their camps, and we intend to sustain the momentum until we run them down or they surrender. There is reduction in the impunity of these bandits and the food basket will get filled again,” he said.
