A yet-to-be-identified wheelbarrow pusher reportedly stabbed a tax collector to death over a dispute involving N50 before taking his own life in Benin City, Edo State.
The incident unfolded on Friday on Mission Road in Oredo Local Government Area, leading to panic and closure of shops by residents and store owners.
According to Daily Post, a heated argument erupted between the wheelbarrow pusher and the tax collector, allegedly due to the former’s refusal to pay the daily N50 ticket.
The disagreement escalated when the revenue collector kicked the wheelbarrow containing bags of items.
In response, the wheelbarrow pusher reportedly drew a knife and fatally stabbed the tax collector.
Witnesses reported that upon realizing the tax collector’s demise, the wheelbarrow pusher inflicted a fatal stab wound on himself, resulting in his own death.
An anonymous eyewitness expressed dismay over what he described as “human rights violation by some overzealous revenue collectors” in Benin Metropolis.
He emphasized that while the approach taken by the wheelbarrow pusher was wrong, it did not justify the tragic outcome.
“His approach was very wrong. But, nothing justifies murder. The economic hardship is too much. Nobody knew that the wheelbarrow pusher had a long knife. He stabbed the man to death. Some people around wanted to hold him, but he became very wild and said he would kill anybody who came close. He stabbed himself and died,” the eyewitness recounted.
The police spokesperson in the state, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, confirmed the incident.
