The task force team of the Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) has detained 16 unlicensed tax collectors who specialize in setting up unauthorized checkpoints throughout the state.
In order to monitor the actions of the illicit tax collectors, the task force, comprised of BIRS employees and security personnel, was recently formed by the acting Chairman of BIRS, Emmanuel Agema.
The squad arrested the 16 individuals on Sunday at various sites in the LGAs of Gwer East and Konshisha.
According to reports, six of the illegal checkpoint operators were detained in Wuese in Konshisha LGA and the remaining 10 in Igbor in Gwer East LGA.
In a recent meeting between the management of BIRS and trade unions in the state, the spokesman for the acting chairman of BIRS, Jacintha Benard, confirmed the arrest of three suspects who had a habit of mounting checkpoints and providing fake receipts to taxpayers in Zaki Biam in the Ukum LGA. She also noted that her boss had made it clear that he would not tolerate the actions of illegal tax collectors who mounted checkpoints.