A commercial bus driver lost one of his fingers during a violent clash with disbanded illegal revenue collectors on Tuesday in Benin City, Edo State Capital.
Security operatives have arrested one of the crime suspects, identified only as Dogo in connection with the incident that happened at the King square.
Trouble started after the victim resisted attempts by Dogo and his gang to extort, resulting in a heated arguments between them, leading to the bloodbath.
The yet-to-be named driver was however taken to the Specialist hospital by other drivers for immediate medical attention, according to witnesses.
A similar incident happened when some louts masquerading as revenue collectors, vandalized a a commercial bus on Wednesday morning.
A Benin-based human lawyer, Sunny Eghedosa, said the incident happened on Oba market road, opposite the Benin Central Mosque by Lagos street junction.
He alleged that a stick-welding illegal revenue collector attacked a driver for resisting extortion.
Responding on Independence Television radio live programme, the Edo State Taskforce Command, SP Michael Aletor, promised to investigate the allegations.
He assured that anyone found flouting the State government’s ban on illegal revenue collection or extortion by the State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Aletor, enjoined residents, particularly victims of extortion to avail the Taskforce Committee video clips or pictorial evidence to fast track identification, arrest and prosecution of persons behind unwholesome practices.
He said, “from the information available to us, some of the people who extort money from drivers and assault them do it in secret”.
“We need the drivers to help us too. Some of these drivers are cooperating with them (louts). They should stop it. Some of the drivers told us that if they fail to cooperate with them, they may come after them”.
“But I have told them (drivers) that they illegal revenue collectors and Agberos are not coming back. They are gone.”, Aletor said.
He further advised drivers and oppressed citizens to always document pictorial and video evidence of persons behind illegal activities in any part of the State.
Aletor reaffirmed that criminal suspects arrested for such offences in the past are handed over to police authorities for further investigation and trial.
