A taskforce established to combat illegal levies and illicit activities in the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State conducted a routine surveillance and enforcement operation on Wednesday, uncovering new instances of extortion and unlawful conduct, okay.ng reports.
Led by its coordinator, Hon. Moses Vangeryina, the taskforce’s early-morning patrol led them to an unauthorized operation at a construction site in the Akahan Adi community, near the late Ter Gboko’s residence. There, they discovered that individuals connected to the ‘Yion Youth Association’ had allegedly forcibly taken over the site and were demanding illegal fees from developers.
Four men – Tersur Adekaa, Terkula Adzer, Terlumun Iorver, and Achin Terhemen – were apprehended at the location while reportedly attempting to extort N300,000 from a construction worker. The group allegedly threatened to demolish the building if their demands were not met.
In response to this discovery, Hon. Moses Vangeryina took immediate action by relieving the local community head of his duties, citing negligence and a failure to ensure order within the community. He urged residents to remain alert and to promptly report any instances of illegal activities or extortion to the taskforce.
“The administration of His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Alia, remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the interests of the people of Benue State,” stated Hon. Vangeryina. “We will exhaust all efforts to eliminate illegalities from Gboko and safeguard law-abiding citizens from exploitation.”
