Taskforce arrests 4 over illegal levies in Benue

A joint taskforce on illegal levies in Benue State has arrested four suspected “marching ground” operators who allegedly invaded a construction site and demanded N200,000 from the developer.

The suspects identified as Gyamusu Aondona, Igbawua Sunday, Ikyowe Daniel and John Adyo (popularly called Akpirekpire) were captured on the taskforce’s CCTV surveillance behind Court 5 in North Bank, Makurdi, on Wednesday.

Gbenda Terver who heads the taskforce, explained that the suspects allegedly disrupted work at a development site opposite the UniAgric Guest House in North Bank and damaged seven bags of mixed cement after the owner refused to pay the illegal levy.

Terver said a distress call alerted the team, which moved swiftly to the scene and arrested the suspects.

He said that the suspects have since been handed over to the Police Area Command in Makurdi for interrogation and prosecution.

Terver who is the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Youth Organisation and Illegal Levies, while parading the suspects in Makurdi, warned youths involved in extortion, vandalism and other criminal activities to desist or face the law.

He described such acts as harmful to the state’s development and further urged residents to report suspicious activities or cases of illegal levies by calling the taskforce’s emergency line.

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