Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Benin City, Nigeria — A political loyalist reportedly aligned with Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has been accused of brutally assaulting a female hotel employee following a dispute over her unpaid wages, igniting public outcry over alleged abuse of power and impunity within the state.
According to local media reports, the incident occurred on December 23, 2025, at Destiny O Hotel Suites in Benin City, where the victim, identified as Love Nehizena, also known as Bella, had gone to demand her overdue salary from her employer. Sources say that her pay — expected on December 18 — had not been settled, prompting her to seek redress.
The accused, Adam Ehigiamusoe, popularly known by the nickname “Shaba”, is described in reports as a political enforcer and driver, and the President of the Drivers’ Association at Ring Road, Benin — widely regarded as a loyalist within the governing political structure. These reports allege that when Bella returned to ask about her salary, Ehigiamusoe became enraged, punched her and ordered others to join him in beating her.
In a disturbing account detailed in a video obtained by journalists, Nehizena recounts that Shaba struck her repeatedly after she reminded him that he had promised to pay her. As she attempted to leave the premises, he allegedly called on an accomplice identified as Kingsley and others to join the assault, during which she was whipped with an electric wire and struck with planks and other objects.
The victim, a single mother who said she relied on her salary to care for her child, also claimed that water and spit were poured on her during the beating while she was subjected to verbal abuse, including derogatory remarks about her socioeconomic background. She said that her phone was broken in the process and that threats were made against her life, with the assailants reportedly telling her that because she had no police or government connections, “nothing would happen” if she filed a complaint.
Video footage circulating alongside the reports showed the victim with visible bruises and stains, underscoring the severity of the alleged assault. Nehizena’s account has prompted condemnation from rights advocates who highlight the incident as emblematic of broader concerns about political thuggery and the intimidation of workers in Edo State.
Despite the severity of the accusations, sources say that no arrest has been made and that there are lingering doubts about whether the police will pursue the matter impartially. A source familiar with the case suggested that although the Edo State Commissioner of Police ordered officers to invite Shaba for questioning, enforcement remains uncertain due to his reported political influence and connections
The alleged assault comes amid wider controversies in Edo, where political affiliations and perceived patronage networks have been linked — in the view of critics — to incidents of violence and intimidation. Lists circulating in media reports also link Ehigiamusoe’s name to a network of alleged political enforcers said to operate in support of the governor’s political interests, raising further questions about the intersection of politics and law enforcement in the state.
Civil society organisations and labour rights advocates have called for urgent and transparent investigation into the assault, arguing that all workers, regardless of status or employer influence, must be protected from violence and assured access to justice. They stress that the failure to act decisively in cases involving politically connected individuals undermines public confidence in law enforcement and the rule of law.
While officials have not yet issued a formal response, the incident has reignited debate across social and traditional media in Nigeria about workers’ rights, political violence and accountability for those who wield informal power. Observers note that the alleged conduct — if substantiated in court — could have significant implications for the governor’s administration and for broader efforts to address political patronage and impunity in the region.
As the civil conversation intensifies and the victim’s testimony continues to circulate, rights groups are urging that due process be observed and that justice be pursued without fear or favour, in accordance with Nigeria’s constitutional protections for personal security and worker welfare.
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