A yet-to-be identified wheelbarrow pusher has allegedly stabbed a tax collector to death in Benin City, Edo State, before killing himself.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Friday on Mission Road in the Oredo Local Government Area of the state.
The incident caused pandemonium among residents and shop owners, who hurriedly closed shops.
An argument had reportedly ensued between the barrow pusher and the tax collector over the alleged refusal by the former to pay N50 per daily ticket.
Angered by the argument, the revenue collector reportedly kicked the wheelbarrow containing bags of items.
In retaliation, the wheelbarrow pusher reportedly brought out a knife and stabbed the tax collector.
On realizing the tax collector was dead, he thereafter stabbed himself in the neck and died.
An eyewitness, who doesn’t want his name in print, lamented what he described as “human rights violations by some overzealous revenue collectors” in Benin Metropolis.
“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,” he said.
The police spokesperson in Edo State, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, confirmed the incident.
