Illegal revenue collectors dare Soludo, collect levy from barrow pushers, petty traders

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Illegal revenue collectors in Onitsha and its environs, Anambra State, have  continued to dare governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo as they extort wheel barrow pushers, petty traders Andrews hawkers who were exempted by the governor from payment of levies.

Ebuka Nwite, one of the illegal revenue collectors from Izaa, Ebonyi state, arrested by security operatives stationed at New Tyre market Nkpor, for extorting and beating up an elderly barrow pusher said that he beat up the man for not paying his #200 levy.

His words,”My name is Ebuka Nwite, from Izaa, Ebonyi state, I work under one Ebuka from Nkpor but I know that what I am doing is illegal. I am a barber but because people owe me I resort to illegal revenue collection and what I pay to my boss is #30000 a day.

“So when I asked the barrow man to pay #200 ticket and not load levy he refused and as I tried to confiscate his barrow he hit me and I fought him. On the process the security Chief who I later learnt his name is Uche Rogers Nebuwa, ordered that I should be brought to their office.

“I am pleading that I will not engage in this illegal business again, I was once arrested and detained by Ocha Brigade for extortion. My boss is burying his mother and that is why he is not picking my call to tell him I have been arrested again for extortion,” he further stated.

“I Know that governor Soludo is doing good work in Anambra and I am not happy that my people from Ebonyi state are tarnishing the image of the state,” he lamented.

“Ocha Brigade arrested me one day and released me after giving them #3.500. I collect levy for loads, wheel barrow pushers, hawkers and petty traders to make up #30000 a day as directed by my boss, Ebuka.

“I try to meet up the target but because people are still returning from villages because of Christmas and New year celebration, I hardly collect up to #30000 a day and my boss is not happy with me,” he revealed.

“We are many in Nkpor, but my bit is New Tyre axis and others are scattered. Some in Onitsha but we are in Onitsha. So I beg that I should be forgiven because I will not continue again to extort people,” he vowed.

Reacting, the vigilante security boss, Nebuwa, warned the illegal revenue collector to turn a new leaf and lamented that Ebonyi state indigenes resident in Anambra State have made Anambra unsafe.

He however released him on self recognition warning that he will not be left off the hook when next he is caught in any illegality reminding him that Governor Soludo made life easier for the down trodden by exempting them from payment of levies.