​Chaos erupted along Mission Road in Benin City on Thursday morning when drink merchants violently clashed with the Edo State Consumer Protection Committee during a routine raid on illicit goods.
The violent skirmish began around 10:30 AM after vendors noticed inspectors approaching and attempted to clear their shelves of suspicious stock.
When committee members moved to inspect the outlets, enraged store owners and traders banded together to physically prevent access, assaulting officials in a bid to thwart the confiscation of fake, adulterated, and unauthorized beverages.
​The operation formed part of an ongoing statewide crackdown by the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo targeting counterfeit alcohol, unwholesome soft drinks, and expired consumer items.
​Reacting to the assault, the Chairman of the Edo State Consumer Protection Committee, Comrade Osaro Culture Iyamu, disclosed that the team had been facing persistent pressure and covert attempts from syndicates to compromise their enforcement mandate.
He emphasized that neither violence nor bribery would derail the agency from protecting public health and upholding standards under the governor’s SHINE Agenda.
​Following the altercation on Mission Road, security agencies intervened and summoned leadership from the regional market associations, including the Beverages and Alcohol Dealers Association, for an emergency dialogue to address the violence and hold offenders accountable.
