Teryima Andrew, Jos
The special squad committee on curbing multiple taxation on Nigerian highways has apprehended two police officers among seven other civilians for extorting money from motorists on Jos Abuja highway.
Members of the special squad committee on curbing multiple taxation on Nigerian highway made the disclosure Monday in Jos, at a stakeholders meeting of Nigeria Association of Agricultural Product Dealers in Plateau State.
According to an operation officer of the group, two Police officers and seven persons were arrested in Jos, along Kuru Jos south local government area of Plateau state for alleged harassment and extortion of money from commercial drivers who were conveying agricultural produces from northern Nigeria to other parts of the county,
He said the act, has hiking prices of foodstuff across Nigeria, thereby causing more hunger in the land.
Desk officer of the Committee, North Central Zone, Yahaya Usman, a Superintendent in the Nigerian Police also affirmed that arrest of the said persons, including the police officers.
He stressed that the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris has zero tolerance on corruption, and any form of criminality, and will not spear anyone found wanting.
Mr. Usman noted that many police officers have fallen prey to corrupt practices, since the assumption of office by the current Inspector General of Police “I do know that a lot of erring police officers have been sacked from work and anyone who encourages multiple taxation on farmers will be equally sanction.”
It was learnt that the said Police officers were arrested last Saturday, and have been transfer to the force headquarters in Abuja, for further investigations and appropriate sanctioning.
Earlier, north central zonal coordinator of Nigeria Association of Agricultural Product Dealers, Jonah Ogbaji, had lamented over multiple taxes and unnecessary levies, intimidation and harassment of it members.
According to him security operatives do aide operatives of illegal tax collectors on the Nigeria highways.
He assured that “we must support the federal government to enforce reduction of price of food in the country through checking multiple tax, we must defend our members to proudly feed the nation.
The National Implementation Committee is also charge with the responsibility of curtailing incessant incidences of Cattle rustling.
