Fresh Violence Rocks Benin City as Rival Gangs Clash Amidst Revenue Collection Suspension

Our reporter

Tensions boiled over into violence Wednesday as two heavily armed groups clashed at Ramat Park, just hours after newly inaugurated Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo suspended all revenue collection activities across the state.
The governor’s decision, aimed at restoring order and ending extortion by so-called “Lions and Tigers,” has inadvertently ignited a dangerous power struggle on the streets.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing rival factions engage in a gunfight in broad daylight, sending market vendors and commuters running for safety. Despite a heavy police presence nearby, authorities struggled to control the scene, with sporadic gunshots continuing for hours. Videos circulating on social media showed terrified residents fleeing as chaos ensued, casting a dark shadow over Okpebholo’s promise of a safer Edo.

A PDP member, Goodluck Osaretin, suggested the violence was a result of unfulfilled campaign promises. “Certain youth factions, especially within the APC, were allegedly promised control over revenue collection in exchange for their support,” he said, referencing figures like Kabaka, Ebo Stone, and Osarobo, who are believed to have significant influence over local youth factions. “Now they’re asserting their claims by force, having been sidelined by the governor’s recent directive.”

The new administration has taken a hard stance on crime, with close allies calling for severe penalties, including the death penalty for cultists. However, this rhetoric appears to have done little to address the underlying tensions. Critics argue that a more strategic, peace-building approach was needed to defuse alliances forged during the election.

Shopkeepers in the bustling Ramat Park area shuttered their businesses in fear of further violence. “We hoped a new government would mean stability, but it’s as if the chaos has only just begun,” lamented one vendor, expressing skepticism about Okpebholo’s approach to security.

As Governor Okpebholo enters his first week in office, his administration faces immediate challenges in controlling factions that were once critical to his campaign. While his suspension of revenue collections aimed to curb harassment, the directive has triggered a brutal competition for influence. With public confidence on the line, Okpebholo’s next steps will be closely watched as residents call for swift and decisive action to reclaim order on Benin’s streets.