“They Came Like Soldiers, Slapped Us, Forced Us to Pay” — Struggling POS Operators Cry Out
By Roving Reporters
POS operators around first gate area of Igoba along Akure, Iju-itaogbolu road of Akure North Local Government Area have accused officials of the council of extortion, harassment and intimidation following the sudden enforcement of a controversial ₦5,000 Point-of-Sale (POS) permit, allegedly without prior public notice.
Roving Reporters obtained a cash receipt issued by Akure North Local Government, titled “P.O.S. Permit – Cash Receipt”, dated 21 January 2026, with Receipt No: 00031.
The receipt indicates a payment of ₦5,000 (Five Thousand Naira) collected as POS permit annually, and bears the signature of a revenue collector.
Findings show that traders were allegedly compelled to make payments on the spot, despite claims that no official announcement or sensitisation was made before enforcement began.
“They Just Barged In and Started Harassing Us”
Some POS operators told Roving Reporters that local government officials arrived unannounced on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, demanding immediate payment.
One POS operator said: “They came and said they were from Akure North Local Government and that we must start paying POS permit. I told them I don’t use my POS for cash withdrawal, that it is for customers who use ATM to buy goods from me. They insisted I must pay. They collected ₦5,000 from me. I have never heard of such permit before. They didn’t inform us, they just barged in and started harassing all the traders.”
Alleged Assault Sparks Crisis
The situation reportedly escalated when some operators resisted payment.
According to eyewitnesses,
“When some of the POS operators refused to pay, one of the local government officials slapped a POS operator. That was what led to serious crisis before the police arrived.”
Residents said the intervention of the police only came after tensions had already risen.
Another operator gave details allegedly provided by officials:
“They told us we must pay ₦5,000 for POS permit. First, they said it is ₦5,000 per month from Akure North Local Government chairman. Later, they said it is ₦5,000 annually and that it is backed by the State House of Assembly and contained in their bye-laws.”
He added: “Initially, I refused to pay. Later they came back with policemen and started arresting people. Some people pleaded on our behalf and told us to just pay and let them go. That was how I paid ₦5,000 and they issued me a receipt.”
POS Machines Allegedly Seized
Operators further alleged that enforcement became more aggressive days later.
“They came another day and seized some POS machines. The next day, they returned and collected the permit money before releasing them,” one trader said.
Widow Cries Out: “This Business Feeds My Children”
A visibly distraught widow, who runs a POS business to support her family, told Roving Reporters that the incident left her traumatised.
“They came like soldiers, without notice, forcing us to pay ₦5,000. I told them I didn’t know such permit exists. This POS is what I use to feed my three children. It caused serious outrage, and one official even slapped a POS operator.”
She added: “They went to pick policemen to harass us. Even after 4pm, when they were supposed to have closed, they came back again trying to arrest people. They came on Friday too. Some of us are yet to pay, and they keep coming back to harass us.”
No Prior Public Notice — Traders Insist
Roving Reporters gathered that no official information, circular or public sensitisation was issued by Akure North Local Government prior to the enforcement exercise.
Affected operators insist that the sudden enforcement, alleged violence and police-backed intimidation amount to exploitation of small-scale traders who are struggling to survive amid economic hardship.
The affected POS operators appealed passionately to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently intervene and rescue them from what they described as an oppressive revenue drive by the Akure North Local Government chairman.
They said the sudden enforcement of a ₦5,000 POS permit, allegedly without prior notice or proper engagement, was pushing already struggling small traders to the brink.
According to them, the exercise has turned into “daily harassment” of operators who rely on the business to survive amid the harsh economic realities in the state.
“We are begging the Governor to come to our aid,” one operator pleaded. “This POS business is how many of us feed our families. Some of us are widows and youths with no other means of income. The local government chairman is generating revenue from people who are only trying to survive. Payment of 5,000 is too outrageous for a POS operator… They should stop harassing us and refund the money they had forcefully collected from us. We appeal to Governor Aiyedatiwa to stop this suffering and protect us.”
Reacting to the allegations, the Chairman of Akure North Local Government, Mr Johnson Ogunmolude, said the council had the legal right to collect rates from POS operators but claimed he was not aware of the incident that allegedly led to the fracas.
“The local government officials have the right to collect our rates, but I do not know what transpired that resulted in the altercation,” Ogunmolude said. “Some of our officials are saddled with the responsibility of collecting rates, but I am not aware of that particular development.”
He insisted that the collections were backed by existing bye-laws of the local government, noting that POS operators were not newly introduced to such payments. “There is a law; it is contained in our bye-laws that guide them to collect rates from POS operators,” he said.
However, the council chairman said he could not immediately state the exact amount officials were expected to collect, explaining that he did not have a copy of the relevant bye-laws with him.
He added that the practice predated his tenure as chairman, dismissing the operators’ claims as resistance to an existing policy.
“It has been the practice before I became chairman. They are only denying it because they want to cause problems,” Ogunmolude stated.
