Nigerians Still Pay Taxes To Terrorists...Says Law Maker

"It's a frightening development to imagine terrorists from other neighbouring African countries imposing taxes on Nigerians, this amounts to a threat on the sovereignty of Nigeria."

This was the assertion of Ikenga Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere Imo,   representing Ideato South and North Federal Constituency of Imo State, while reacting to a motion on the floor of the House, by Sani Yakubu.

Yakubu, a member, representing Tangaza/Gudu Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, had informed the House in his motion that two notorious bandits groups have united to impose taxes in his areas. He told the House that foreign jihadists who used to be sworn enemies of their local counterparts have now United to demand taxes as conditions for farming in theTangaza Local Government of the state.

According to him

“There are two notorious terrorist groups that are being housed by two major forests in the area. These are the Lakurawa who claimed to be jihadists from Niger, Mali and Libya and the local bandits who as well have been terrorising the locality, he stated.

His motion at the plenary July 12, further explained that "Tangaza/Gudu Federal Constituency is surrounded by these two forests. These are the  Tsauna Forest which he said stretches to Gwadabawa, Illela and Niger Republic and this is joined by yet another forest, the Kuyan Bana Forest which also stretches  to Gudu and Niger Republic."

He went on to reveal that these two forests are the homes of these two terrorists.

Yakubu confirmed that these two terrorists, used to be sworn enemies, but he wondered how they have now mended fences to become one force, harassing and making life unbearable for his people who are mainly farmers.

He said that their combined strength now appears to be very challenging and overwhelming to the deployed security forces to a point that they now prevent people from burying their loved ones. 

Yakubu lamented that his people who are mainly agrarian and cattle rearers are constantly being threatened by the terrorists not to embark on this year’s farming season unless the communities pay them imposed taxes. Yakubu regretted that if this threat is carried out, it will result to national food insecurity as there will be shortages of food supply not only to his people but the nation as a whole. He called for drastic actions to curb what he described as looming food starvation pandemic.

Meanwhile, the House, while adopting the motion, called for the deployment of more security forces to flush out the criminals in those forests. The House also called on the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to support the affected residents who are victims of the incessant attacks with relief materials.

Ikenga Imo while contributing further to the motion expressed confidence on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, promising that the criminals would be flushed out soon.