Nigeria Content Online

Benin city was
thrown into chaos yesterday when thugs reportedly loyal to the
suspended chairman of the Anti-Pipeline Vandalisation Committee,
Osakpamwan Eriyo, unleashed terror on residents and passers-by around
the King’s square area, resulting in the death of at least two people
and many injuries.

Mr. Eriyo who is
also the youth leader of the Edo State chapter of the Action Congress
of Nigeria (ACN), was yesterday suspended by the governor, Adams
Oshiomhole, for allegedly assaulting the transition committee chairman
of Oredo Local Government Council and son of Benin oba, Uyiekpen
Erediauwa.

Mr. Osakpamwan, who
was also in charge of collecting revenue from commercial transporters
for Oredo council, was relieved of the responsibility by Mr. Oshiomhole
as a result of the fracas with the transition chairman.

Trouble started
when the ticket boys of Mr. Eriyo tried to compel bus drivers plying
Ring Road to Ugbowo to buy their tickets. The bus drivers resisted, on
the grounds that the tickets are illegal, given that the contractor had
been suspended.

The refusal to
purchase tickets sold by Mr. Eriyo’s men resulted in a fight which soon
spread to Lagos, Ibiwe, Oreoghene streets, and other adjourning roads
around the Kings Square. The ensuing fracas allegedly resulted in the
death of Raphael Oke and Osamwuyi Obaze, both drivers in the Ring
Road/Ugbowo route. Another whose name could not be ascertained as at
press time allegedly suffered a broken neck, and five commercial buses
were seriously damaged.

When NEXT visited
the scene of the incident, about a hundred youth from the palace of the
Benin Oba were seen heading to the troubled zone. Anti-riot policemen
were scattered around the Kings square, apparently to curtail the
spread of the fighting.

When contacted on
phone, Edo police command spokesman, Peter Ogboi confirmed the death of
only one man which he said resulted from the fighting.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Action Congress on Nigeria has
announced the suspension of Mr. Eriyo from the party. A press statement
signed by the party secretary, Osaro Idah, said that the “party has
suspended the State Youth Leader of the party, Osakpamwan Eriyo from
the party with immediate effect pending the outcome of the on-going
investigation of his recent conduct.”