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Concerns over widespread extortion of commercial truck drivers in Benue State have resurfaced following a fresh report detailing the operations of individuals allegedly posing as tax or traffic enforcers near the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) headquarters in Makurdi.
According to an account shared by a concerned citizen on social media, groups of men operating on motorcycles routinely target heavy-duty vehicle drivers passing through the state, demanding money under various pretexts such as wrongful parking, failure to use warning triangles, and other alleged violations. The extortion, described as a daily occurrence, takes place in broad daylight and continues until the drivers comply or face prolonged harassment.
The report claims these activities occur openly close to key government institutions, including the BIRS head office and in the vicinity of Fidelity Bank along major routes in Makurdi. In one specific incident highlighted in the post, the sender recounted intervening by appealing to a soldier stationed near the BIRS office to secure the release of a detained driver who had refused to pay the demanded sum.
The individuals are said to patrol persistently on motorbikes, looking for opportunities to flag down trucks and impose fictitious fines. The account accuses the Benue State Police Command, Makurdi, and BIRS officials of turning a blind eye to these practices, describing the situation as taking place “under the watchful eyes” of law enforcement and revenue authorities.
The source referenced a similar video evidence shared the previous year and vowed to provide additional footage whenever such incidents are witnessed again. The latest report emphasized that the harassment appears systematic and unrelenting, with the extortionists relying on intimidation and false claims to extract cash from drivers who are often in transit and eager to avoid delays.
This development adds to ongoing complaints about multiple illegal checkpoints and unofficial revenue collection points along highways in Benue State, where commercial drivers frequently report being stopped by armed groups, uniformed personnel, or civilians claiming affiliation with various agencies. Such practices have long been criticized for undermining legitimate revenue collection, increasing transportation costs, and contributing to insecurity on major roads.
Neither the Benue State Police Command nor the Benue Internal Revenue Service has issued an official response to the specific allegations contained in the social media post as of the time of this report. The matter has once again drawn attention to calls for stricter oversight, inter-agency collaboration, and decisive action to curb extortion along transport corridors in the state.
