Residents of Torough and surrounding areas are allegedly being taxed and levied by suspected armed bandits operating in Benue State’s Ukum Local Government Area.
Yesterday, information was obtained from a community member who spoke anonymously out of concern for possible attacks, stating that the bandits had imposed a N20 million monthly charge on every household.
He claimed that since they had no choice but to comply, they had already begun collecting the levy after assigning each home their part of the tax.
He emphasised that nobody dared to question the authority of the bandits or report the situation to security agencies, not even the local chiefs.
“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 on 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 it to security agencies. You and your family will be eliminated in broad daylight. We are paying the N50,000 levied on each household. Some traditional compounds that have many households are levied N1 million,” he said.
The Ukum LGA’s caretaker chairman, Mr. Victor Iorzaa, confirmed the news by saying, “It is true that armed bandits are taxing the people and are demanding N20 million. I have reported the matter to the police and also to the State Security Council.
“The person behind it is a bandit known as ‘Full Fire’. He was the person who connived with armed herdsmen recently to attack Tiv people; he 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 in a community bordering Taraba State. If you remember, two weeks ago, the military launched an attack on his house.
“The man has been terrorising the area for the past five years, but the government of Governor Hyacinth Alia is working hard to put an end to their activities. And security operatives are also working hard in that regard.”
