Illegal Checkpoints Operating Side By Side With Police Checkpoints, A State Embarrassment —BIRS Chairman

Benue State Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, Acting Executive Chairman, Emmanuel Agema, FCTI,CNA, has decried the daring operation of illegal checkpoints in the state by criminals side by side with police checkpoints.

The Chairman made the cry when he and the Director Enforcement, Titus Ningir along with some staff undertook a tour round the various revenue inspection and monitoring points across the state on Thursday, 4th April, 2024.

He said it was disappointing to hear that some truck drivers conveying palliatives and relief materials by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, were harassed and extorted by criminals at some illegal checkpoints very close to police checkpoints without any intervention.

Speaking further, the Chairman said the act by the criminals has caused the state an embarrassment as NEMA has threatened to halt further distribution of materials to Benue State and other Southern parts of the country until the situation is brought under check.

The Chairman emphasized that the gazetted revenue inspection and monitoring points of the service has never demanded for money from any of the trucks conveying relief materials, and further distributed samples of the NEMA “Loading Order” for easy identification by staff.

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Relatedly, some illegal checkpoints at Amaafu and Gbor in Katsina-Ala Local Government, Ugbema in Buruku Local Government and Akerior in Ushongo Local Government were dismantled and destroyed while the operators took to their heels upon sighting the team of security men with the Chairman.