Emmanuel Agena, the Acting Chairman of Benue State Internal Revenue Service, has revealed that 35 people who were engaged in illegal tax collection in the state are facing the consequences.

In 2024, the agency was targeting to generate over N16bn.

Agena, made this known on Monday while speaking to the press, adding that the board surpassed it N14bn target in 2023.

He stated that most of them had the backing of prominent individuals, he also emphasized the activities of illegal tax collectors in the state.

He said that under his watch the era of patronising politicians had become history.

Agena frowned at the incident that occured where a truck conveying palliatives from Adamawa to Anambra State was hijacked by some youths in Aliade, Gwer East.

He said, “A truck was intercepted and the driver beaten while the windscreen of the vehicle broken and over N200,000 was stolen. Three persons have been arrested and are in police custody. They will be moved to DSS for thorough. investigation.

“We aim to flush out or reduce illegal tax collectors to the barest minimum. Already, 35 people who engaged in illegal tax collectors were arrested and facing prosecution.

“This has been a big challenge. We have constituted a team headed by the director of Tax collection. Prominent people in the state are involved in encouraging these boys.”

The BIRS boss in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Land planned to recover over N5.6bn from ground rent in that regard.

“We also, engaged the service of Softnet, an ICT company to aid us collect revenue. They are paid a commission. The company have engaged over 250 staff, who have been trained and given Point on Sale to collect revenue.

“Taxation is about confidence. Our work now is easy because taxpayers are willing to pay because the people are seeing what the government is doing,” he stated.