Local govt tax collectors kills female hairdresser

A 38-year-old woman and hairdresser, Mrs. Toyin Ijiyemi, has been reported killed by tax officials from Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State while trying to exert payment from her.
It was gathered that Ijiyemi slumped while she engaged in a brawl with the government officials, who tried to seize her television set for alleged failure to pay tax.
According to eyewitnesses, the officials had successfully dragged the television from her and went away with it, leaving her on the ground unattended to.
One of the deceased’s aunts, Mojisola Otitilowo, narrated that “Toyin was at her shop at Bolajoko Street, Oke-Aro area in the state. when the council officials invaded her shop. They were four in number.

Mrs. Toyin Ijiyemi

“The council officials ask her to pay the rate for her shop. All efforts made by Toyin to appeal to them not to seize her television set failed. She did not have money and that was why she begged them that she would come and pay the money the second day.
“Her persistent plea fell on deaf ears. One of them removed the television from where it was but Toyin started dragging it with them. She fell down. Despite her fall, the council officials went away with the television.”
Otitolowo noted that a customer who came to buy sachet water, “discovered that Toyin was unconscious where she laid on the floor of the shop and raised an alarm, which attracted neighbours who rushed in and started pouring water on Toyin to revive her.
“When it was realised that Toyin had given up the ghost, the matter was reported at the B Division police station, Oke-Aro,” she said.
She noted that her body had been deposited at the morgue of the State Specialists Hospital, Akure, adding that the local government tax officials were later arrested by the police.
Mother of the deceased, Mrs. Abike Ijiyemi, who was crying profusely when our correspondent visited her home at Alade-Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of the state, demanded justice.