By Eyo Precious Jedidiah
Makurdi — Suspected armed bandits operating in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State have reportedly begun collecting taxes and levies from residents of Torough and nearby communities.
A resident, who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal, revealed that the gangs have imposed a N20 million monthly tax on each household. The community members have no option but to comply, with each household being allocated their share of the levy. Traditional compounds with multiple households are taxed up to N1 million.
The resident described the dire situation: “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.”
Militia Leader ‘Full Fire’ Behind Extortion
The Caretaker Chairman of Ukum LGA, Mr. Victor Iorzaa, confirmed the development, stating that a bandit known as ‘Full Fire’ is behind the extortion. “He is the person that connived with armed herdsmen recently to attack Tiv people and has been working with armed herdsmen. The people are living in fear. That community is the most troubled place in the LGA. He started this shortly after he lost the attack on the community. And the place he stays is a community bordering Taraba State. If you remember two weeks ago, the military launched an attack on his house,” Iorzaa said.
Security Efforts and Government Response
Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har, asserted that bandits are already on the run and cannot collect taxes from villagers. “The issue of illegal levies has become a common practice with bandits worldwide because they use it to survive. However, no government will fold its hands and allow that callous thing to happen. The criminals have been having a very tough time recently, and they are really feeling the heat and cannot have the guts to wait and collect any tax. Most of them have fled their camps, you can find out, and we intend to sustain the momentum until we run them down or they surrender,” Har stated.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, noted that the Command had not received reports of the development.