By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), has impounded fourteen (14) trucks loaded with ilmenite (Titanium-Iron Oxide) mined from Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Acting Executive Chairman of the service, Mr Emmanuel Agema, who led the Director Task Assessment, Mr Titus Aondoakaa and the Director Enforcement, Mr Titus Ningir, and security operatives to Adikpo, headquarters of Kwande Local Government Area, explained that the trucks were impounded over failure to pay due and appropriate taxes as contained in the Benue State Revenue Administration Law.
In a press statement by Jacinta Bernard, the Media Assistant to the Chairman, says her Boss frowned at the non transparent nature of the Miners activities, which he noted makes the tax assessment for the company inadequate.
He charges field staff of the service to always make independent investigations to ensure proper assessment of the tax payers within their areas of coverage.
In the same vein, Benue State Government is to scrutinize the activities of miners operating in the state to address issues of insecurity associated with illegal mining.
Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Public Order, Barr Fidelis Mnyim disclosed this during an on-the-visit to some mining sites in Kwande Local Government, following impounding of trucks by BIRS for evading taxes.
The Commissioner who is also the Chairman, Mineral Resources and Environment Management Committee in the state, maintained that apart from the efforts the committee is making to ensure that Benue maximize the benefits of its abundant mineral resources, through the 13 percent derivation, the committee is meeting with all licensed miners in the state to have them properly documented in order to flush out all the illegal miners.
