Tension in Benin over death of suya seller

TENSION is mounting in Benin City, the
Edo State capital, over the death of
barbecue (Suya) seller, Musa Alkali in
Oredo Local Government Area.
Alkali was said to have been killed,
allegedly by agents of the state revenue
agency last week Friday at his suya spot
on ADP junction by Airport Road.
Members of the Hausa community on
Tuesday, staged a protest at the Oredo
Council secretariat, alleging that late
Alkali was stabbed to death following his
alleged refusal to pay N100 fee to
revenue agents reportedly from the
Oredo Council Area.
However, Chairman of Oredo Local
Government, Osaro Obazee, while
reacting to the allegation, absolved the
team of revenue collectors of complicity
in the death of the Suya seller, saying:
"No responsible government would send
revenue agents to go and kill anybody on
any
account."
While urging the aggrieved Hausa
protesters to be patient, Obazee said he
had ordered a full scale investigation into
the incident.
However, there are varied accounts of the
circumstances of the death of Alkali, even
as Oredo Council boss yesterday
scheduled a meeting between the council
and the Hausa community leaders.
An eye witness at the scene of the
incident said Alkali was killed by bullets
from fleeing armed robbers while,
another source had it that revenue agents
operating in Oredo Council Area
demanded the sum of N100 from Alkali at
about 8:30pm, saying his refusal led to a
fight and was subsequently stabbed to
death in the ensuing
fracas.
The remains of late Alkali is said to have
been buried in a cemetery at Eyaen, a
suburb of Hausa dwellers in Benin.
Contacted, the Edo State Police image
maker, DSP Moses Eguavoen, was
said to be at an official engagement with
the Commissioner of Police.