Four Arrested in Kogi for Defying Ban on Illegal Revenue Collection

By Ahmed Dan Asabe Lokoja 

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Kogi State Command, has arrested and paraded four suspects for violating the state government's order banning illegal revenue collection by transport unions. The suspects, Umar Yakubu, Mohammed Danjuma, Agulu Yahaya, and Ibrahim Yagaji, were apprehended on February 5, 2025, for selling stickers to tricycle operators in Lokoja metropolis.

According to the Public Relations Officer, DSC Abdullahi Aliyu, the suspects' actions contravened the state's law banning such activities. "The command would investigate the suspects thoroughly before arraigning them in court to serve as a deterrent to others," he said. One of the suspects, Angulu Yahaya, denied knowledge of the state government's ban on revenue collection by unions. However, he admitted that his union chairman gave him stickers issued by the Lokoja Local Government Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu, to sell to tricycle union members.

The arrest comes after Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo banned illegal collection of membership dues and related revenue from commercial road users by transportation unions on January 31, 2025. The ban aims to prevent indiscriminate revenue collection by tricycle and motorcycle unions, which hinders government revenue agents from performing their duties.

Governor Ododo's administration has been focused on improving the lives of citizens and transforming the state. His commitment to development is evident through various projects and initiatives, including road construction and rehabilitation, healthcare infrastructure upgrades, education sector advancements, and economic empowerment programs.

As the Governor continues to work towards a better Kogi State, the NSCDC's efforts to curb illegal revenue collection will help ensure that the state's resources are utilized efficiently and effectively. The command's investigation and potential prosecution of the suspects will serve as a deterrent to others who may be engaged in similar illegal activities.