Onitsha Mob Takes Law Into Their Hands, Burns Soludo Revenue Agents

An irate mob has set ablaze two men said to be revenue touts allegedly working with Anambra State government.

According to Vanguard, the men were set ablaze after reportedly causing the death of an innocent bystander at Old Market Road along Venn Road by Egerton in Onitsha, Anambra State.

It was gathered that the revenue agents were dragging the steering wheel of a tipper driver with him, when he lost control and the vehicle rammed into the by-stander, killing him immediately.

A gory video circulating on the internet showed the mob beating two of the revenue agents with objects and setting them ablaze.

A man, who made the video recording of the incident, said,  “There was chaos in Onitsha this morning as angry mob set ablaze two revenue touts, while four others were lucky as they managed to escape. The revenue collectors, numbering about six were chasing the tipper driver over a certain amount they asked him to pay.

“As they were chasing him, some of them were dragging the steering with him, but unfortunately, in the process, the tipper driver lost control rammed into a passer-by, killing him instantly.

“Immediately, the revenue collectors saw the damage they have caused, they tried to flee the scene, but Onitsha mob got angry and descended on them, setting ablaze two of them instantly while four of them managed to escape.

“This is one death too many that has been going on in Anambra in the last two years. The person who the tipper driver rammed into is a known person. We cannot continue like this anymore. These Revenue touts of the state government have killed more Ndi Anambra than non-state actors.”

Another source, who is a trader also said, “Onitsha was hot this morning at Egerton by old market road. Revenue men were dragging steering with a tipper driver because he refused to give them bribe and in the process, the vehicle ran over an innocent man, then seeing the result of their stupid action, they tried to run away. But the angry people chased and caught two of them.” 

Speaking to the aforementioned publication, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police had responded swiftly to bring the situation under control.

Ikenga said: “Anambra police responded swiftly on the receipt of the fatal accident that happened in that area. We are already working with the relevant authorities to ascertain what happened and find an amicable solution to such, especially on future occurrences. I will get back to you as soon as I get more facts on the incident, please.”