An irate mob in Onitsha, Anambra State, burned two revenue agents alive after their actions allegedly caused a tipper driver to lose control and kill a bystander. Police have confirmed the incident and are investigating.
Two revenue agents working for the Anambra State government were set ablaze on Friday by an angry mob in Onitsha after allegedly causing the death of an innocent bystander.
The incident occurred along Old Market Road at Venn Road by Egerton in Onitsha. According to eyewitnesses, the agents, chasing a tipper driver over unpaid dues, engaged in a scuffle with the driver, grabbing his steering wheel. This caused the driver to lose control, fatally hitting a passerby.
In retaliation, the enraged mob descended on the agents. Two of them were beaten and set ablaze, while four others reportedly escaped.
A viral video of the incident circulating on social media showed the gruesome aftermath. A witness narrated, “There was chaos in Onitsha this morning. The revenue agents were dragging the steering with a tipper driver, leading to the accident. The angry crowd didn’t spare them after seeing what happened.”
Another eyewitness, a trader, lamented, “These revenue touts have been terrorizing Ndi Anambra. Today’s incident is one death too many. The innocent man killed was well-known. People have had enough.”
Videos of the burnt corpses of the agents have continued to trend online, with residents expressing frustration over the activities of the state’s revenue collectors.
The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the incident and assured the public that investigations are ongoing.
Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said, “The Anambra Police swiftly responded to the incident and brought the situation under control. We are working with the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the accident and prevent future occurrences. Further updates will be provided.”
The tragic event has reignited debates about the conduct of revenue agents in the state and calls for reforms to prevent similar occurrences.
