Soldiers in the Nigerian Army have arrested three illegal revenue agents for allegedly extorting wheelbarrow pushers and hawkers in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
The criminal suspects were nabbed after a tip-off after extorting some wheelbarrow pushers on Thursday at the King square in Oredo Local Government Area.
The suspects were paraded at Army base roundabout, King square, and subjected to ‘aeroplane treatment’ before he was interrogated by the military personnel.
Behind Oredo Local Government Council Secretariat, a pick pocket was apprehended and beaten by Local vigilante on Thursday afternoon.
The criminal suspect is alleged to specialize in snatching phones from commuters boarding vehicles from King square to Government Reservation Area and Ugbor axis in Benin City.
Nemesis caught up with the criminal suspect while trying snatch an iPhone from a female customer when he was caught by a vigilante, claimed that he monitored the criminal activities of the suspect for two weeks before he was eventually arrested.
A local vigilante, lamented that the suspect was nabbed at the same spot where he was arrested twice in the past.
He alleged that he was handed over to the law enforcement Agents for investigation and prosecution, but he was shocked that the suspect was released.
“He was arrested last week. And we dealt with him seriously. But, we were surprise to see him today (Thursday, October 23rd, 2025). I think this guy is something else.
“He (suspect) usually operates during rush hours at this motor park. But, after confessing to the crime and vowing repentance, the next day, he will return to base”, the vigilante said.
On August 5th 2025, the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, banned the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), ANNEWAT, and Drivers on Wheel.
The announcement, was endorsed by Secretary to Edo State Government, Musa Ikhilor, who listed Atalakpa Recovery Concept Limited and other unions as well as revenue collection agents amongst the banned unions.
The Government said these groups had grossly violating the conditions of their engagement under clearly defined terms of the regulator — Edo State Inland Revenue Service (EIRS) and resorted to cash collections, extortions, social harassment and intimidation of residents of the State.
“Having “observed with grave concern the alarming resurgence of illegal revenue collection by certain unions and organizations under various guises across the State”; “It considers these actions as acts of economic sabotage, social oppression, and a direct affront to law and order”.
“The era of using unions as fronts to harass, intimidate, or extort drivers and road users in the name of revenue collection is over”, the statement said.
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