Edo Tenant Allegedly Smashes Landlord’s Head Over Rent Hike From 300k to ₦1m

A disagreement over apartment renovation and a controversial rent increase has reportedly ended in violence, leaving a landlord with serious head injuries.

A tenant in Benin City, Edo State, has allegedly injured his landlord during a dispute over a rent increase from ₦300,000 to ₦1 million, claiming he acted in self-defence after being slapped.

A tenant in Benin City, Edo State, has reportedly left his landlord with serious head injuries following a heated disagreement over an alleged rent increase from ₦300,000 to ₦1 million.

The incident came to light after a video circulated online on Friday, October 30, showing the tenant admitting that he injured his landlord while claiming he acted in self-defence.

Recounting what led to the confrontation, the tenant said the disagreement started after he carried out tiling work in the apartment at his own expense to improve the premises for his business.

He alleged that his landlord confronted him over the renovation and demanded additional payment despite not initially bearing the cost of the work.

The tenant further claimed that the landlord subsequently increased his rent from ₦300,000 to ₦1 million, triggering an argument that eventually turned physical.

According to him, the landlord was the first to slap him, prompting his reaction.

“He slapped me first and out of my defence, I smashed his head. It wasn’t intentional,” the tenant said in the video.

The confrontation reportedly left the landlord with serious injuries to his head.

However, the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the landlord’s account of the disagreement and the extent of his injuries, remain unclear.