The recent attack on Abakpa main market traders by tax officers was unlawful and uncalled for, especially, as it became a near fatal incident, where an apprentice was said to have been feared dead.
The incident led to complete closed down of the Abakpa market which is the only market in town where those living within the capital territory can go and buy stuffs they need.
The internally generated revenue officers had gone to the market on Wednesday led by the Special Assistant to the governor on IGR, Hon. Martin Okwuegbu.
They were at the market to collect taxes from some of the traders who had refused to pay on the premise that since they have been asked to leave the market there was no need to continue paying taxes.
The traders before the incident were already embittered over the recent suspension of their duly elected chairman, and the set up of caretaker by the state government.
Following the removal, they dragged the state government to court just before the attack on Wednesday.
It was gathered that while the revenue officers were busy sealing shops, they got into several altercations with the traders which led to fisticuffs.
Unfortunately, an apprentice who have been serving his master for years at Imo line Abakpa main market, and recently had a surgical operation was said to have been beaten to coma. While the traders said the boy was killed, police claimed he was still breathing.
Angered by the sad development, traders mobilized in their numbers, and went for reprisal. They beat up the revenue officers, while the caretaker chairman was not left out, as the irate traders destroyed the goods in his shop, and almost set it ablaze.
Trying to restore normalcy in the area, the police tear gassed the angry mob to disperse them and arrested many.
The SA on IGR admitted they sealed about seven shops for various reasons ranging from refusal to pay IGR to the shop being used for criminal activities in the market, while he denied knowledge of any fracas or death during the exercise. He also denied the exercise was been used to victimize some traders opposed to the government leadership.
In his words, “we sealed the shops and left peacefully. I am just hearing from you that someone died. Nothing like that happened while we were there. We served them notice to pay three times before going to seal their shops. If anyone says he or she has paid let them come and present their records and we will immediately open the shops.”
This newspaper make bold to say that the clash at Abakpa market was unnecessary. The revenue officers shouldn’t have embarked on such exercise without policemen, especially considering the ongoing cold war between government and the traders.
Come to think of it, the state government has given the traders till August 31, to move to international market, coming on August 28, to seal shops for none payment of taxes may not have been the right time for that enforcement.
Traders were already embittered that they can’t afford money for shops at the new international market and their shops were been locked up just three days to the deadline of their quit notice.
We charge the revenue collectors to do their job decently and to know when to involve security operatives to avoid taking laws into their hands.
They should not make people to think they are being used as a tool to victimize those who are not in support of the policies and programmes of the present government; rather they should be objective and be fair in all their activities.
If the claims by the traders were true, that means the officers need to be sanctioned for allegedly collecting IGR from selected few in the market who were perceived as opposition with the view of intimidating them.
We also condemn the protest by the traders who riot at every single provocation, even when they have been served notice for payment of IGR, but adamantly refused to pay, rather resorted to causing mayhem in the market, which has led to its shutdown.
The traders should know that not many issues are settled with violence rather through dialogue.
While we also condemn the attack on one of the traders, as his fate of survival is still in the hands of God.
This newspaper out rightly condemn the alleged process the revenue task force go about collecting IGR for the State government. If truly the shops where locked peacefully without any rancor, who where those supposed revenue officers who beat a trader into coma?
State government should checkmate the excesses of the revenue collectors, as on several occasions they have harassed and attacked members of the public in the process of collecting IGR.
We know IGR is meant for the betterment of the people. As through IGR the government facilitates projects for the benefit of the State, therefore, we do not dispute the collection but the way and manner it is been carried out.
Citizens have been on countless occasions assaulted, intimidated and sometimes the physical abuse by the revenue collector leads to death of the victim.
The death of one Chief Geoffery Mgbada who died three months ago was as a result of harassment and intimidation from tax officers under the platform of Vehicle Inspector Officer (VIO).
The assault traders on daily basis in the hands of the tax collectors are unimaginable.
This newspaper advocates for sensitization of the revenue tax collectors. The tax collectors should be trained on the civil way and manner the tax payers should be approached, and when to approach them.
If they default, drag them to court, let the law handle the case instead of resorting to self help.
The government should also stop employing touts as revenue collectors, and employ those who are willing to learn and follow due process.
Also traders should learn to hold their peace even in the face of provocation, they should learn to obey the law and do what is required of them.Editorial
Condemning Clash between Ebonyi Traders and IGR collectors.
The recent attack on Abakpa main market traders by tax officers was unlawful and uncalled for, especially, as it became a near fatal incident, where an apprentice was said to have been feared dead.
The incident led to complete closed down of the Abakpa market which is the only market in town where those living within the capital territory can go and buy stuffs they need.
The internally generated revenue officers had gone to the market on Wednesday led by the Special Assistant to the governor on IGR, Hon. Martin Okwuegbu.
They were at the market to collect taxes from some of the traders who had refused to pay on the premise that since they have been asked to leave the market there was no need to continue paying taxes.
The traders before the incident were already embittered over the recent suspension of their duly elected chairman, and the set up of caretaker by the state government.
Following the removal, they dragged the state government to court just before the attack on Wednesday.
It was gathered that while the revenue officers were busy sealing shops, they got into several altercations with the traders which led to fisticuffs.
Unfortunately, an apprentice who have been serving his master for years at Imo line Abakpa main market, and recently had a surgical operation was said to have been beaten to coma. While the traders said the boy was killed, police claimed he was still breathing.
Angered by the sad development, traders mobilized in their numbers, and went for reprisal. They beat up the revenue officers, while the caretaker chairman was not left out, as the irate traders destroyed the goods in his shop, and almost set it ablaze.
Trying to restore normalcy in the area, the police tear gassed the angry mob to disperse them and arrested many.
The SA on IGR admitted they sealed about seven shops for various reasons ranging from refusal to pay IGR to the shop being used for criminal activities in the market, while he denied knowledge of any fracas or death during the exercise. He also denied the exercise was been used to victimize some traders opposed to the government leadership.
In his words, “we sealed the shops and left peacefully. I am just hearing from you that someone died. Nothing like that happened while we were there. We served them notice to pay three times before going to seal their shops. If anyone says he or she has paid let them come and present their records and we will immediately open the shops.”
This newspaper make bold to say that the clash at Abakpa market was unnecessary. The revenue officers shouldn’t have embarked on such exercise without policemen, especially considering the ongoing cold war between government and the traders.
Come to think of it, the state government has given the traders till August 31, to move to international market, coming on August 28, to seal shops for none payment of taxes may not have been the right time for that enforcement.
Traders were already embittered that they can’t afford money for shops at the new international market and their shops were been locked up just three days to the deadline of their quit notice.
We charge the revenue collectors to do their job decently and to know when to involve security operatives to avoid taking laws into their hands.
They should not make people to think they are being used as a tool to victimize those who are not in support of the policies and programmes of the present government; rather they should be objective and be fair in all their activities.
If the claims by the traders were true, that means the officers need to be sanctioned for allegedly collecting IGR from selected few in the market who were perceived as opposition with the view of intimidating them.
We also condemn the protest by the traders who riot at every single provocation, even when they have been served notice for payment of IGR, but adamantly refused to pay, rather resorted to causing mayhem in the market, which has led to its shutdown. The traders should know that not many issues are settled with violence rather through dialogue.
While we also condemn the attack on one of the traders, as his fate of survival is still in the hands of God, this newspaper out rightly condemn the alleged process the revenue task force go about collecting IGR for the State government. If truly the shops where locked peacefully without any rancor, who where those supposed revenue officers who beat a trader into coma?
State government should checkmate the excesses of the revenue collectors, as on several occasions they have harassed and attacked members of the public in the process of collecting IGR.
We know IGR is meant for the betterment of the people. As through IGR the government facilitates projects for the benefit of the State, therefore, we do not dispute the collection but the way and manner it is been carried out. Citizens have been on countless occasions assaulted, intimidated and sometimes the physical abuse by the revenue
collector leads to death of the victim.
The death of one Chief Geoffery Mgbada who died three months ago was as a result of harassment and intimidation from tax officers under the platform of Vehicle Inspector Officer (VIO).
The assault traders on daily basis in the hands of the tax collectors are unimaginable.
This newspaper advocates for sensitization of the revenue tax collectors. The tax collectors should be trained on the civil way and manner the tax payers should be approached, and when to approach them.
If they default, drag them to court, let the law handle the case instead of resorting to self help.
The government should also stop employing touts as revenue collectors, and employ those who are willing to learn and follow due process.
Also traders should learn to hold their peace even in the face of provocation, they should learn to obey the law and do what is required of them.
