Thread by @TheICIR

#INVESTIGATION: How bribe-taking security operatives, gangs force Nigerians to pay dearly for food (PART 2)
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@PoliceNG @HQNigerianArmy @NGRSenate @FRSCNigeria @CustomsNG @fmtaviation @TradeInvestNG @FedMinOfJustice @MBuhari @officialEFCC icirnigeria.org/investigation-…

NIGERIAN security operatives, fake federal, state and local govt revenue officials and gangsters extort over N5.8 billion annually from traders conveying livestock from the far North to the country’s South-South and South East states, an investigation by #TheICIR has revealed.

With a minimum of 400 truckloads of cattle leaving the North to the 11 South-South and South East states weekly, traders pay a minimum of N300, 000 per truck in illegal levies, fees and taxes.
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@officialEFCC @PoliceNG @HQNigerianArmy

“In a month, over 1,600 trucks convey cattle to the two zones and over 19, 200 trucks in a year. When you calculate how much we pay in illegal fees and levies and taxes per truck along the roads, you will understand the cost of extortion we have been shouting about”-Inua
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Our correspondent saw first-hand, how armed gangs, @PoliceNG, @HQNigerianArmy, @nigimmigration, @CIVILDEFENDERS and @ndlea_nigeria used checkpoints to fleece traders.
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@NGRSenate @FRSCNigeria @CustomsNG @fmtaviation @TradeInvestNG @FedMinOfJustice @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo

Fake federal revenue officials and others purporting to work for Benue, Taraba and Cross River states also created barricades along the route to charge traders. The only agencies whose operatives did not extort them throughout the journey were @FRSCNigeria and @CustomsNG
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“Walahi (I swear) my brother, It was easy to convey either foodstuff or livestock from any part of the north to any part of the south before now.
Our brothers in the south also brought things like fish, crayfish, palm oil & garri to the north without any problem"-Ibrahim
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1/2 The Adamawa State Chairman of Cattle Dealers Association of Nigeria, Inua Abubakar said over 100 foodstuff and livestock traders are currently out of business.
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2/2 According to him, the high cost of doing the business, perishability of foodstuff and the death of livestock due to unnecessary delays at hundreds of checkpoints and the bad condition of the roads are major reasons for the losses incurred by his members.
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Despite several engagements with key stakeholders including the police, the army, federal and state officials from Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, and Cross River, the nuisance has continued.
Read full story: 👇
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icirnigeria.org/investigation-…