By USMAN ALIYU

A revenue collector, simply identified as Emmanuel, has been shot dead by suspected cultists on Thursday in Benin.

The victim, popularly known as ‘Meme’, a member of Professional Drivers on Wheels, was killed in what was suspected to be a retaliatory cult-related violence.

A source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Emmanuel was killed in Akugbe Street, off 2nd West junction by Oliha market in Oredo Local Government Area of the State.

The source said some gunmen in two operational vehicles trailed the victim from 2nd West junction into a nearby house, which he attempted to use as shelter from harm.

However, a burglary proof was said to have prevented him from accessing the residential building while the assailants struck.

It was learnt that gunshots caused pandemonium among traders and residents in the area, who scampered to safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets.

Sources stated that the victim was shot multiple times and left in a pool of his own blood by the assailants, who escaped before the arrival of security personnel.

According to one of the sources, terrified residents and traders wailed when men of the Nigeria Police from Textile Mill Road Division arrived at the scene.

The victim’s body was later evacuated in a commercial bus to a morgue.

A resident in the area, Odion Osakue, who witnessed the attack, described the incident as surprising and saddening.

When contacted on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident.

Yamu, however, said that more details on the incident would be made available later. (NAN)