Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has denied authorising any task force or agency to collect levies through force or intimidation from elderly market women in major markets in the state.
He has also expressed deep concern over the continued harassment and manhandling of the market women in major markets across Calabar, Ikom, Ogoja and other towns by persons posing as tax and rate collectors.
Speaking while hosting over 7,000 widows to a feast marking his 66th birthday, the governor directed all such individuals and groups to immediately desist from what he described as criminal and extortionist activities.
He further warned that his administration would no longer tolerate such behaviour explaining that such aggression and exploitation were giving his government a bad image.
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Reports indicate that in several major markets in Calabar, hired young men routinely intimidate and assault traders who refuse to pay alleged government levies.
While condemning the act, he added that the practice inflicted unnecessary hardship on already struggling citizens.
“We discovered our brothers are too hostile. They do things the government does not know about—collecting unnecessary tolls that cause pain to the people,” he said.
The governor also warned that anyone caught extorting money in the name of the state government would be made to refund such collections in full.
