An angry mob has set ablaze two yet-to-be-identified revenue collectors of the Anambra State Government for causing a tipper driver to ram and kill a bystander at the Old Market Road along Venn Road by Egerton Bus Stop in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, caused confusion, thereby leading to gridlock in the area.
Eyewitnesses near the scene said the tipper driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the bystander as the revenue touts were dragging the steering of the vehicle with him.
According to the sources, the revenue collectors were chasing the tipper driver over a payment they wanted him to make before he rammed into the man.
One of the sources said, “There was chaos in Onitsha as an angry mob set ablaze about 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 and rammed into a passerby, killing him instantly.
“Immediately, the revenue collectors saw the damage they had caused; they tried to flee the scene, but the 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 was 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 and a trader in the area also said, “Onitsha was hot this morning at Egerton by Old Market Road. Revenuemen were dragging steering with a tipper driver because he refused to bribe them, 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 and set them on fire.”
The videos of the incident showing the burnt corpses of the revenue collectors have been making the rounds on social media to corroborate the story.
The Chairman of the association, Ebuka Unekwe, who also confirmed the development, lamented that the revenue collectors have been a pain on the neck of tipper drivers in the last two years.
When contacted on the development, on Saturday, the Anambra State Police Command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development, saying the police have responded swiftly to bring the situation under control.
He said, “Anambra Police responded swiftly on the receipt of the fatal accident that happened within 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.”
(PUNCH)