Armed bandits operating in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State have reportedly commenced the collection of taxes and levies from residents of Torough and nearby communities.
A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being attacked, that the gangs introduced a levy of N20 million as monthly tax to be paid by each household.
He said they had already started gathering the levy after allocating each household their share of the tax since they had no option but to comply.
He pointed out that no one, including the village heads, dared challenge the authority of the armed gangs or report the matter to security agencies stressing: “We are more or less in bondage here. There is no complete freedom of movement, association or expression. These militia boys are very deadly and powerful here in our Sankera axis.
“The whole of the three LGAs in Sankera made up of Logo, Ukum 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. You and your family will be eliminated in broad daylight. We are paying the N50,000 levied each household. Some traditional compounds that have many households are levied N1 million.”
Another community member said the authorities of the local government were aware of the development.
Ukum LGA is the flashpoint of criminality in Benue State where killings and kidnapping reign supreme.
Prominent people, including state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Matthew Abo, as well as past local government chairmen have at one time or the other been kidnapped for ransom by bandits.
When contacted, the chairman of the local government, Victor Iorzaa, confirmed the development and said that he had reported the situation to the police and the state security council.
“The report is true, and the person behind it is Full Fire. He was the person who connived with some Fulani recently to attack our people. He has been working with the Fulanis people to terrorise the area for the past five years.
“He is a bandit. If you remember two weeks ago, the military launched an attack on his house. The people of the area are living in fear that the 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.
“I have reported the matter to police and also the state security council. Full Fire lives at the border community with Taraba State,” Iorzaa said.
While praising the efforts of state governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia in combating criminals, the local government chairman also lauded security operatives for curtailing militiamen’s activities.
However, when contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, stated that no such incidents had been reported to the police.
The governor’s Security Adviser, Joseph Har, commented on the situation, asserting that bandits were now fleeing the state and could no longer impose illegal levies on villagers.
Har explained, “The practice of demanding illegal levies is a common tactic among criminals worldwide as a means of survival. However, any responsible government cannot allow such callous activities to persist.
“The criminals are currently under intense pressure and are unable to gather to collect any taxes. Many of them have abandoned their camps, and our efforts are focused on maintaining this momentum until they are apprehended or surrender. There has been a noticeable decrease in the audacity of these bandits, and we are committed to
further reducing their influence.”
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