John Nwoko Reporting
There is tension in parts of Benin Metropolis, Edo State, following reports that a tax collector abandoned his duty over alleged threats to his life.
This followed allegations that the tax officer leaked classified information about opposition political interests to security operatives, leading to their arrests by security operatives.
The incident, according to a source, occurred shortly after February 25, 2023, presidential election in Nigeria
The victim who was a tax officer, identified as Nicholas Idiogbe, was said to have fled his duty post after receiving repeated threats from individuals opposed to his political affiliations over the leaked information.
A source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said Idiogbe was accused of leaking information about suspected APC thugs to security operatives. He served as a party agent during the 2023 presidential and state elections.
According to the source, shortly after the thugs attacked the polling unit where Idiogbe represented the ruling party PDP in the state, they were arrested and detained by security operatives.
However, after the APC, the party the suspected thugs were allegedly linked to, won the presidential election, the suspects were reportedly granted bail.
It was learned that in the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election in Edo State, Nicholas Idiogbe came under pressure from suspected political thugs who alleged that he provided information to the police that resulted in their arrest.
The incident immediately raised concerns as they began to trail Idiogbe vowing to kill him, the Source said.
Those who attended the meeting informed Nicholas of their plan to eliminate him over the issue, a development that brought serious apprehension to the victim.
Flowing from the purported threats,, Nicholas fled to Isiohor Community, where his father’s house was located — several miles away from the polling unit where the incident occurred to avert the
However, even there, he was not safe. It was gathered that the suspected thugs also tracked him to the community in search of him.
Nicholas who was listening in his hideout inside a ceiling board manhole, became panicked according to eyewitnesses.
The political assailants were said to have beaten his mother Mrs. Idiogbe to a pulp when they could not find Nicholas before fleeing the scene, leaving her badly injured.
Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the matter, but investigations are said to be ongoing to ascertain the facts and ensure the safety of government officials.
Community leaders are calling on the state government to provide adequate security for tax and revenue personnel across Edo State.
In Nigeria, election violence has become reoccurring decimals where many have lost their lives in most dire cases.
With the conduct of these elections, it was impacted by the increased levels of violent incidents and vote trading recorded.
Recall how tragedy struck in Ogheghe Community, Ikpoba-Okha LGA, on Saturday, February 25, 2023, where a 42-year-old Elizabeth Owie went out to cast her vote but never returned home. She was hit and killed by gunmen.
Her husband, Owie Osadebamwen, who addressed the newsmen about how the attack happened, said, the incident turned him into a widower.
Owie’s incident is one of many incidents of election violence that have ruined families in the Country.
Similarly, a member of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in Oyo State, Mudashiru Baraka, in December 2022, was killed by rival political thugs in the state.
In Kogi state, the PDP office in Ajaka and Aloma communities was attacked by thugs allegedly loyal to the state
Governor. The Governor had earlier issued a terrorist threat to his opposition.
According to the 2023 BBYDI Election Violent report for January 2022 and December 2022, before the February 2023 presidential poll, there were 255 instances of electoral violence in all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, with the south west having the most 83 incidents, followed by the south east 54, south south 43, north central 42, north west 17, and north east 16.
The most electoral violence has occurred in Osun 41 with the next-highest numbers in Enugu 30, Imo 17, Rivers and Ekiti 16 apiece, and Lagos 16.
