IG orders arrest of illegal tax collectors on roads, highways

Usman Haruna

IG orders arrest of illegal tax collectors on roads, highways

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has ordered the arrest of illegal tax and revenue collectors as well as labour and trade union members impeding vehicular movement on roads and highways.

To this end, he had deployed the police Special X-Squad team across the country to commence with effect from Monday (today) the removal of all forms of illegal blockage and obstructions on the roads.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood in a statement on Sunday, said the special team was under strict instruction to arrest, investigate and prosecute any person or group of persons found committing the illegal act.

He said, “It is unlawful and contrary to the laws for any individual, or group under any name to take laws into their hands and block any road or highway in full or any part of it under the guise of collection of revenue/tax or enforcement of the interests of such organisations.

“For avoidance of doubt, the Taxes and Levies Act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 section 2 (2) disallowed any person, including a Tax Authority from mounting a road block in any part of the Federation for the purposes of collecting any tax or levy.”

Moshood advised state and local governments, Boards of Internal Revenue Service, transport unions, labour and traders associations that it is against the law for any organization to restrict or restrain members of the public from the free usage of roads and highways anywhere in the country.

“It is evident from the numerous complaints received at police stations across the country that these illegal blockage points were most times taken over and used by armed robbers and kidnappers to maim innocent travellers and other road users,” the Force pointed out.

The police spokesman implored the concerned  stakeholders to prevail on their proxies, agents and representatives to desist from blockading the highways and roads “as the full weight of the law will be applied on anyone arrested in the act, and they will be prosecuted along with their sponsors.”

He also urged parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards and prevent them from being used to commit illegal acts under the guise of employment.