Authorities in Ebonyi State have apprehended five individuals accused of illegally collecting revenue from petty traders in the International Market in Abakaliki. The arrest was made on Tuesday during a coordinated raid led by the state’s Board of Internal Revenue and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The suspects, who were reportedly collecting money from small-scale vendors such as sachet water sellers and vegetable traders, were found operating at different spots within the market.
The enforcement team seized several items from the suspects, including cash collected from traders and booklets of receipts allegedly used to issue illegal payment notices. Many of the affected traders said these collectors had been pressuring them for daily fees ranging from ₦50 to ₦100, despite a government exemption for petty traders from paying such taxes. Some of the traders explained that they were often threatened with confiscation of their goods if they refused to pay.
One market vendor, speaking anonymously, shared, “They collect money from us every day. If we don’t pay, they say they will seize our items. We have no choice but to give them something.”
Emmanuel Elechi, who led the team from the Revenue Board, explained that the crackdown was necessary due to the persistent disobedience of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s order to exempt petty traders from tax payments. “We are determined to flush out illegal revenue collectors who are bent on tarnishing the image of the board,” Elechi stated. “Our governor understands the struggles of the poor and took this step to ease their hardship, but some people are exploiting this to enrich themselves.”
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Elechi assured the public that his team would continue to arrest and prosecute anyone found violating this policy to discourage others from similar actions. “We shall continue to arrest them and prosecute them to serve as a deterrent to others,” he emphasized, adding that the revenue board would strictly uphold the governor’s directive to protect small-scale vendors from unlawful fees.
The arrests come as Ebonyi State recently implemented an e-ticketing system for commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators. This system is part of a larger effort to streamline revenue collection and close gaps that allow for illegal taxation while also aiming to improve security in the state.
With this move, Ebonyi State authorities hope to provide relief to petty traders, who are among the most vulnerable members of society, and to prevent further exploitation under the guise of revenue collection.