No fewer than three members of a rival group belonging to the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, were feared dead while several others sustained injuries during a clash at Iyana-Iba, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, yesterday.
It was learned that a similar clash happened in the Surulere area between transport unions.
It was gathered that the clash, which started in the early hours was due to a tussle over the control and right for the sale of tickets and collection of tolls from commercial buses at Ojo park and environs.
The fracas followed a protest by some RTEAN members demanding the removal of the National President of the association over alleged meddlesomeness.
One of the leaders of a rival group, Babatunde Kazeem, accused the National President of RTEAN, Musa Muhammed of meddling in the affairs and management of the state’s union for selfish interest.
According to Kazeem, “three of our members have been killed by the invading rival group sponsored by the national body, while one other is on the danger list at the hospital where he was rushed to.
“Muhammad can’t be the president of the union and at the same time chairman of the state.
“We need a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the union pending the election of substantive officers. He is intimidating us with the use of law enforcement agencies. We do not want war in RTEAN Lagos State, we want peace.
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“We, hereby, call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene by calling the National President and his boys to order before the crisis snowballs into full-scale violence.”
However, it took the intervention of the state Police Command to douse and restored normalcy to the area as the warring groups were dispersed.
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Crazy scene at Iyana Iba. Fight between two rival NURTW. @Princemoye1 @SavvyRinu @mrmacaronii @vanguardngrnews @lagostraffic961 @TrafficChiefNG @TVCconnect @followlasg @RuggedyBaba pic.twitter.com/nioKoiPME7
— Kayode Adeniran (@KayodeAdeniran9) September 28, 2022
