Members of the Ebonyi State Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) have arrested five suspected illegal revenue collectors at the International Market, Abakaliki, the state capital.

The suspects who were arrested during a market raid were picked up at various locations collecting illegal fees from market women.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the items recovered from them include some booklets with receipts and cash they collected from women and children who were selling water, vegetables and other small items.

During the raid, there was jubilation in the market as small traders raised an alarm over illegal collection of revenue by people masquerading as government revenue collectors.

Some of the women told LEADERSHIP that fake officials collect between N50 and N100 daily from them or confiscate their pending assets when they pay.

The Fiscal Committee Team Leader, Emmanuel Elechi, said the arrest of the suspects was based on continued violation of Governor Nwifuru’s directive to exempt small traders and vegetable vendors from payment of revenue.

“We are determined to root out illegal revenue collectors who are determined to tarnish the image of the council. We must strictly adhere to the governor’s directive to allow small traders and vegetable vendors to do their business without paying tax.

“Our governor in his wisdom knows what the poor are going through and has decided to ease the hardship but some people are sabotaging the gesture in a bid to enrich themselves.

“We cannot tolerate this, we will continue to arrest and prosecute them” to serve as a deterrent to others, he said.

The council also signaled the automation of e-ticketing for commercial motorcycles and tricycle operators to checkmate crime and close revenue leakages in the state.

The exercise was flagged off by the Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, Chief Christopher Omo-Isu.

The board chairman claimed that profiling commercial motorcycles and tricycles in the state will reduce crime and stop double taxation.

“The new innovation will reduce sales in the markets, streets and main roads of the state as operators are expected to go to various registration points to register within two weeks after which enforcement will begin.

“Any commercial motorcyclist or tricycle operator who uses it to commit an offense will be tracked down, arrested and prosecuted. It will reduce crime in the state,” he said.

He urged the people of the state to adopt the new system, which would bring health and safety in revenue generation and reduce the fight between riders and bikers.