Two killed as rival revenue collectors clash in Edo

THERE is tension in Edo State following the killing of two revenue collectors attached to Akugbe Ventures licensed to collect revenue on behalf of the state government due to on going war between the Akugbe ventures led by Tony Kabaka and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) led by Osakpanwa Eriyo.
Following the killing of the youths, the state Government Thursday suspended the collection of revenue in motor parks until the contending issues are resolved.
But as it seems, the RTEAN members shun the state government’s directive and went ahead to collect revenue yesterday morning but were apprehended by the Akugbe group who handed them over to the police.
Meanwhile, two suspected armed robbers were shot dead Wednesday, while three were arrested after a gun duel between the robbers and soldiers attached to 195 Battalion, Agenebode, Edo State.
The Army Public Relations Officer, 4 Brigade, Benin City, Capt. Rose Managbe, who conducted journalists around, during the parade of the three suspected robbers, including the bodies of the dead accomplices, said soldiers from 195 Battalion, a formation under the brigade received a distress call, while on their way from Agenebode, in Etsako East Local Government Council.
However, Kabaka who spoke to newsmen shortly after he visited the families of two of his members who were killed, narrated that RTEAN members refused to allow his member collect revenue despite the fact that it has the license from the state government to do so.
“Now they have killed two of our members and I want to appeal to government to investigate the matter and ensure that the killers are apprehended.
“I am a changed man and I don’t want to kill. I am only appealing that they should allow us do our job. What the RTEAN is doing is being greedy. But I want to say that no body has monopoly of violence but we will not engage them because it is my strong believe that the Comrade Governor will find solution to the problem” he stated.