Man killed over enforcement of revenue collection suspension

Ini Billie, Uyo

One Samuel Monday Toby, a tax collector from Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State has died over the enforcement of a tax-free regime in the council.

Toby was said to have been attacked and beaten to death for assisting in the enforcement of revenue collection suspension in Ikot Akpaobong market, while traders fled for safety.

The wife of the deceased, Mrs Gift Samuel Monday has petitioned the Commissioner of Police over the death of her husband, which she traced to his involvement in the suspension of revenue collection in the market.

“His assassination is not far-fetched from his 21st December 2023, involvement in the enforcement of the Ikot Akpaobong Market revenue collection suspension directive of the Mkpat Enin Local Government Council having been appointed to aid in the implementation of the directive,” the petition said.

It was learnt that the Transition Committee leadership in Mkpat Enin LGA led by Lady Mercy Bassey had declared a tax-free month for traders in December 2023, as such the revenue collection committee was dissolved.

However, the Personal Assistant to Governor Umo Eno, Akanimo Bob Ikpe, and Village Head of Ikot Akpaobong Village, Eteidung Aniefiok Cyril Udom were said to have flouted the order by selling unauthorized tickets to traders in Akpaudo and Ukam markets.

But Akanimo Bob Ikpe has accused Mkpat Enin Transition Chairman, Lady Bassey of dissolving the former revenue committee without consulting stakeholders, as well as victimizing Ukam and Ikpa Ibom Ward 2, for political reasons.

Reacting to the crisis, the leadership of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area has exonerated itself from the death of the tax collector, saying though the council officially informed Eteidung Udom on the tax-free excise in all the markets in the village, he and Ikpe went ahead to flout the order.

In a release made available to our correspondent in Uyo on Wednesday, Secretary, Transition Committee Mkpat Enin LGA, Pastor Amos Afia said the council never engaged the services of Akanimo Bob Ikpe as a revenue officer, but Samruf Technical Services Limited whose contract elapsed in December 2023, noting that any such claim by Akanimo Bob Ikpe was illegal.

Afia explained that members of the newly constituted Markets/Motor Parks Committee were introduced to the Commissioner of Police, as the authorized persons to collect revenue from January 1, 2024.

“On December 29, 2023, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, got a letter introducing members of the newly constituted Markets/Motor Parks Committee as the authorized persons for revenue collection from January 1, 2024.

“From all the records available in the Local Government Council, there is no record that indicates that the Local Government Council at any point engaged the services of Akanimo Bob Ikpe as a revenue officer.

“Rather, the Council engaged a certain Samruf Technical Services Limited for the revenue business and details of the engagement show that the contract elapsed in December 2023. Therefore, the claim by Akanimo Bob Ikpe that he was a revenue collection officer in the Local Government amounts to illegality.

“Finally, the Transition Committee is working closely with the Nigeria Police and all relevant security agencies to ensure that all culprits in the current crisis are brought to book. We are very committed to restoring and ensuring lasting peace in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area,” the release stated.

When the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) was contacted on the matter, SP Odiko Mcdon said the Village Head of the affected community had been arrested, alongside other suspects in connection with the crime.

“When we got the report, Police went to restore normalcy to the area. It is unfortunate that one of the parties went and now murdered some other person, which led the Police to arrest some persons.

“That matter has been transferred to the State CID. A very discreet investigation is ongoing. The Commissioner of Police has ordered that the matter be investigated, and the outcome of the investigation will made public.

“The police is not out to terrorise people but to ensure law and order, and that has been done. If they have any political issue let them sit down and restore it politically. We would not allow any breakdown of law and order in any part of the state. So, we are on it,” he stated.