Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested several suspects involved in unauthorized revenue collection and multiple taxation along the Enugu, Abakaliki, and Ebonyi axis.
The arrests mark a significant step towards eradicating illegal activities, promoting economic growth, and free flow of industrial and agricultural produce on highways across the country,its spokesman,Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in a statement on Wednesday.
The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force,he quoted in the statement, made the first breakthrough on 24/08/24, with the arrest of 14 suspects at the Abakaliki and Ebonyi boundary at 3 AM.
Additional arrests were made, including 5 suspects at Abumeje, Ogoja, and the last suspect at the Onuakpu area of Ebonyi, while the 5 suspects have been charged to court for economic sabotage and illegal and multiple taxation on highways. Other suspect s who are un the custody at Ebonyi Command will soon appear in court.
According to the statement,the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun,has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to dismantling all illegal revenue collection points, and illegal taxation, ensuring a safer and more secure environment for citizens most especially businessmeb and women in Nigeria.
It added:”This operation remains a good start for the police to escalate and enforce the Presidential order on ease of doing business and the fight against illegal road blocks, revenue collection and multiple taxation on the higways with a view to promoting economic development in Nigeria”.