Traders in Anambra state almost had a violent encounter with officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps NSDC and the Anambra Traffic Management Agency ATMA over payment of sanitation levy.
The traders and other businessmen in the state have threatened to attack any of the security personnels and officers of the Anambra State Revenue Agency found trying to collect money from them.
Trouble started at a popular bar and restaurant in Awka capital when members of the Civil Defence Corps and ATMA stormed the area and forcibly dragged a customer who was drinking at the bar into a Black Maria at gun point.
Similarly two members of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC working at the restaurant were also forced into the Black Maria when they could not find the owner of the restaurant.
Also at Onitsha Bridge Head three other persons were beaten seriously by security operatives when they insisted that they have paid their sanitation levies to the Onitsha South Local Government Area which they said has the statutory right to collect sanitation levies and not the Anambra Internal Revenue Board.
Narrating their respective ideals to reporters, Mr Chukwudi Ndukwe said that he had come to eat at the restaurant and was drinking a glass of juice awaiting his food when they stormed the area cocked their guns and asked him to enter the Black Maria.
“I asked them my offence and they said that if I talk again they will fire me and they started pushing me into the Black Maria and even a lawyer that came to eat was warned not to talk or he would be bundled into the Black Maria.
“They took me along with two other persons and dumped me at the Revenue House Awka inside another Black Maria parked under the sun.
It took the intervention of thd staff of the agency for me to be released since I do not own the restaurant; he said.
One of the two Youth Corps members, Mr Afam Okoye lamented that he and his colleague, an account officer at the restaurant, were arrested even when they identified themselves as corps members.
He said, “They forced us into the Black Maria at gun point and released us after over two hours. We had earlier made them to speak with our boss and they cut the phone and bundled us into the Black Maria; he said.
At Onitsha, traders are laying armbush for security operatives and revenue agents for a likely reprisal attack against them.
They alleged that they are being extorted by the tax force with the aid of the Civil Defence officers.
When contacted the Public Relations Officer for NSCDC, Mr Edwin Okadigbo said that he is not aware of the incidence, adding that he needed to be properly briefed before he could speak on the matter.
