An angry mob in Onitsha, Anambra State, set fire to two unidentified revenue touts early Friday morning, accusing them of causing a tipper truck to crash into a bystander.
The incident occurred along Old Market Road near Venn Road by Egerton.
Eyewitnesses reported that the driver of the tipper lost control of the vehicle after the revenue touts allegedly grabbed the steering wheel in an attempt to force him to pay a demanded fee.
In the chaos that followed, the truck veered off course and struck a bystander.
According to local sources who spoke with Nigerian Tribune, the group of revenue collectors—estimated at six—had been pursuing the driver over an alleged payment dispute.
While two touts were killed in the mob’s retaliation, four others managed to escape the scene unscathed.
The situation quickly escalated into violence, with residents taking matters into their own hands in the wake of the tragic accident.
A source said: “As they were chasing him, some of them were dragging the steering wheel with him, but unfortunately, in the process, the tipper driver lost control and 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 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 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.”
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, however confirmed the development, saying the police have responded swiftly to bring the situation under control.
Ikenga added that the force was working with other relevant authorities to ascertain what happened and find an amicable solution to such, especially on future occurrences.
