Chaos erupted in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Friday as an irate mob set ablaze two revenue collectors accused of causing the death of an innocent bystander during a heated altercation with a tipper driver. The tragic incident occurred at Old Market Road along Venn Road by Egerton, leaving the community in shock.
The revenue agents, allegedly working with the Anambra State government, reportedly chased and dragged the steering wheel of the tipper driver’s vehicle, leading to the driver losing control. The vehicle veered off the road, fatally hitting a passerby.
Eyewitness accounts and disturbing videos circulating online show the enraged mob apprehending and beating the revenue agents before setting two of them ablaze. Four others reportedly escaped the scene.
A witness captured the aftermath on video, narrating, “The revenue collectors, about six of them, were chasing the driver over a payment dispute. While dragging the steering with him, the driver lost control and hit a passerby, killing him instantly. The mob, angered by the incident, caught and set two of them on fire.”
The incident has reignited public outrage over the activities of revenue agents in Anambra State, with many residents decrying the increasing fatalities linked to their actions. A trader in the area lamented, “These revenue agents have caused too many deaths in Anambra in the past two years. This cannot continue.”
Anambra State Police Command Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident and assured the public of swift action. “We have responded promptly to the situation and are working with relevant authorities to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future. Further details will be provided as investigations progress,” he stated.
The event has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with calls for an overhaul of revenue collection methods in the state to prevent further tragedies.
