…as cyclists send SOS to Okowa
Igbunu Miracle
Motorcycle riders in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State have sent ‘Save Our Souls’ to the Commissioner for Transport and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to caution tax force members around the state.
Appealing yesterday a cyclist who identified his name as Inana Hilary said, “I was asked to pay the sum of(N10,000) Ten naira to bail his motorcycle for unidentified offence at their office behind the Delta State Independent Electoral Office, (DSIEC) Ughelli.
According to him, “I was sitting ontop my motorcycle when i saw people running and before i could know what is happening, a vigilante hilux van came and they took my motorcycle to their office
“When i got to their office, their chairman, Paul Ode told me that my offence is ( N20, 000) Twenty thousand naira because, i fought with one of thier members, but was reduced to N10,000.
“I have did not commited any offence because, i parked my motorcycle by the side of a fuel station. A platain seller told them, that i was just coming to the park before my bike was apprehended.
When this reporter got to their office to seek for the release of the motorcycle, a Tax force member who gave his name as Douglas said, “The chairman gave a standing order that the machine cannot be released to the owner without parting with the sum of (10,000) and i cannot disobey our chairman.
I am appealing to the Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Commissioner for Transport to urgently tackle the menace of the said Tax Force boy who are allegedly claiming that they are working for the state government.
He said, This money will be paid into government account because we are working for the Delta state government under the mininstry of transport and moreso, the vigilante we called were paid for their savaging the situation and we need our money back. Douglas insisted
All efforts to speak with the chairman of Ughelli Tax, Paul Ode was not successful as his mobile line rang severally without answer and the calls were not returned.
