By Praise Chinecherem
Three drivers have lost their lives and several passengers injured within ten days following clashes between operators of commercial vehicles and new revenue enforcement team set up by the Anambra state government.
The drivers had accused the revenue enforcement team of extorting money from them at gun point using the personnel of the Anambra Vigilante Services AVS.
Addressing reporters in Onitsha, Chairman Anambra Joint Transporters Forum, Prince Moses Ohanebo regretted continued extortion from them amidst payment of mandatory taxes by his members.
He said, “Despite payment of the mandatory taxes by our members, the revenue team has continued to obtain more money from us even when receipt of payment has been presented to the team.
“We are not happy with their operations. They have been harassing our members, locking them up in Black Maria truck and detaining them at the cells with payment of up to N20,000 to secure bail.
“So far, three of our drivers have died due to their operations. You will recall that at Okoh, Orumba North local government area, they chased one of the drivers conveying passengers and the bus somersaulted leading to death of the driver and many of the passengers sustained various degrees of injury.
“One just sold his land to put his vehicle in order and on the first day he came out, his vehicle was seized because he has not paid his tax but for about three months he has not been on the road and due to that frustration he gave up the ghost.
“Another one ran into an accident when he was being chased by the revenue team who went after him with guns and matches.”
On his part, Assistant Secretary Mr Innocent Obagha accused the enforcement team of heavy and double taxation, just as he alleged introduction of emblem with over ten different types of taxes at motor parks, contrary to Soludo’s directives that they would not pay any more taxes and levies
He said, “We urge Governor Soludo to checkmate the activities of the team because they are the touts that have been harassing our members and government recruited them as revenue enforcement team”
“The monthly payment is difficult for our members and we appeal to the state government to allow us to pay daily instead of monthly.
“The worst of it all is that even if you have not been on the road for a week or a month you are expected to pay that money with an unofficial penalty of N10,000.00 or N20,000.00 as the case may be.”
He insisted that government should allow them collect the revenue and remit same to government coffers instead of making use of touts.
