Bala, who was said to have loaded his truck with his conductor from Jos , Plateau State to Benin City, got to Benin on the 23rd of February, 2025 and off- loaded his vehicle. He was said to be heading to Lagos, but decided to pass the night at Ahor Motor Pack.
An eyewitness , who pleaded anonymity said that at about 12.00 am on 23rd of February , some boys ,who were said to be revenue collectors for Ahor Community Development Association , acting on behalf of Ahor Community Development Association Chairman woke- up Suleiman Bala’s conductor, demanding for N1000.00 ticket.
The conductor ,who it was gathered was surprised that the revenue collectors were selling ticket in the middle of the night offered them N400.00.
It was also gathered that , the boys in anger collected their wheel spanner , so the conductor has to call the attention of his driver, Suleiman Bala, who was sleeping .
It was also gathered that the deceased with his conductor followed them, pleading that they release his wheel spanner, while offering the balance of N600.00 , but they boys were angered and used the wheel spanner to hit the driver repeatedly until the driver fell and died. The revenue collectors were said to have immediately disappeared .
A petition dated 24th February, 2025 by the Chairman Hausa Community, Edo State ,Alhaji Saleh Badamasi through S.O Osazuwa & Co to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Betty Enekpen- Otimenyi appealed to the Commissioner of Police , Edo State to use her good office to investigate and arrest the chairman of Ahor Community Development Association, on whose instructions the boys were collecting illegal revenue.
The petition reads .
“We have been briefed and our Services retained by ALHAJI SALEH BADAMASI (General Chairman of Hausa Community Edo State) of No. 1, Lagos Street, Benin
City for and on behalf Late Suleiman Bala a member of Hausa Community in respect of the subject matter above.
That our Client informed us that Late Suleiman Bala who is a member of Hausa Community was brutally attacked and murdered in cool blood by some
boys (Agents) of Ahor Development Association Acting on the instructions of Ahor Development Chairman.
” That our Client further informed us that the Late Suleiman Bala who is bonafide gentle member of Hausa Community, is a Businessman from Mangu
Local Government Area of Plateau State.
“That our Client further informed us on the 23rd day of February,
enroute from Jos to Lagos and also delivered some goods in Benin which was
close to 8:00pm on that same fateful day decided to stay and pass a night in
Ahor Kara Market along Lagos Express Way.
” That our Client informed us that at about 12:00am midnight when Late Suleiman Bala, Driver and the Motor Boy sleeping inside the Trailer (Truck)
were woken up by a group of boys holding and parading a ticket bearing Ahor
Community Development Association purporting to be acting on the
instructions of Ahor Communiy Development Chairman to collect revenue of One Thousand Naira (N1000) of any Truck even at that unholy hour.”
“That our Client reliably informed us that both Late Suleiman Bala, the Driver and
the Motor Boy pleaded and offer them Four Hundred Naira (N400) in order to make peace reign even when they know they were acting illegally.
” That the boys who are Agents of the Chairman of Ahor Community
Development Association, ignored their Pleas by taking laws into their hand grabbed and seized their wheel Spanner of the Truck and were going away with
it.
“” That we are informed by our Client that while they were begging them
(Agents), the Boys got angry for disturbing with their insistent plea and attacked Late Suleiman Bala with the wheel Spanner by continuously beating and hitting
him with same wheel Spanner which led to his internal injury and bleeding.
” That we are further informed by our Client that the late Suleman Bala collapse
and died on the spot as a result of the internal bleeding and injuries he
sustained from the attack particularly from the force and hitting on him with the
wheel Spanner.
“That members of Hausa Community and Police from Ahor Division who were
informed visited the Scene of Crime and evacuated the body of late Suleiman Bala to Police Clinic in G.R.A Benin where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
” We are by this Petition calling on your good Office as the Commissioner of Police,
Edo State to investigate, arrest the Chairman of Ahor Community Development
Association on whose instructions his boys (Agents) carried out such illegal Act to
produce his boys (Agents) against the background of the banning of such activities
by the Executive Governor of Edo State and more so acting at such an unholy time
to perpetuate these illegal, devious and murderous activities which has culminated
into taking an innocent life who engaged in his lawful Business by name Suleiman Bala.
Be assured of our highest commendation in this regards.”
When contacted, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Moses Yamu said, he was not aware of such incident.
He said. ” I don’t know about that, such a thing did not happen in this place, I can assure you that such a thing did not happen here.”
