The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Kogi State have arrested four suspects for engaging in illegal revenue collection in the state.
Parading the suspects at the NSCDC state command headquarters in Lokoja on Friday, the suspects were accused of violating the state government order banning illegal collection of revenue by any transport union in the State.
DSC Abdullahi Aliyu,Public Relation Officer, NSCDC, Kogi State Command while parading the suspects said they were arrested while perpetrating the illegal act.
He identified the four suspects to include Umar Yakubu, Mohammed Danjuma, Angulu Yahaya and Ibrahim Yagaji.
According to him, the suspects were arrested at various locations in Lokoja the state capital for criminal conspiracy and illegal collection of revenue.
He added that the suspects were apprehended on the 5th of February, 2025 for selling stickers to tricycle commercial operators (keke) and collecting revenue within Lokoja metropolis.
He stressed that their act contravened the law of the State that banned such activities.
According to him, the command would investigate the suspects thoroughly before arraigning them in the court of competent jurisdiction to serve as deterrent to others who may wish to indulge in such unlawful act.
One of the suspects Angulu Yahaya in an interview with newsmen denied knowing that the state government has banned collection of revenue by unions.
He, however, stated it was their union chairman who gave him stickers issued by the Lokoja local government Chairman Hon. Abdullahi Adamu directing him to sell the stickers to the tricycle union members before the Civil Defense officers arrested him in Lokoja.
Recall that on the 31st of January, 2025 Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo announced a ban on illegal collection of membership dues and other related revenue from commercial road users by various transportation unions in the state.
The ban follows,indiscriminate collection of revenue by commercial tricycle and motorcycle unions,thereby hindering the government revenue agents to perform their statutory function of revenue collection.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
