Not less 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.
According to sources, a similar clash happened in the Surulere area between transport unions.
It was gathered that the clash, which started in the early hours of yesterday was due to a fight over the control and right for the sale of tickets and collection of tolls from commercial buses at Ojo park and environs.
The quarrel was followed by a protest by some RTEAN members demanding the removal of the National President of the association over alleged intrusiveness.
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.
“We, hereby, call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene by calling the National President and his boys to order before the crisis grows into full-scale violence.”
However, it took the intervention of the state Police Command to restore normalcy to the area as the rival groups were dispersed.
At an emergency meeting with a faction of the group, in Alausa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, called on the rival groups to put an end to the quarrel or face the consequences as Police had been alerted and directed to arrest anyone caught disturbing the peace and tranquility of the state.
Giwa said the state government had commenced a full investigation into the tussle at the Ojo and Surulere areas of the state with the plan of preventing the breakdown of law and order.
He said: “We have commenced investigation into the allegations levelled against the National President of the union with the aim of resolving every lingering issue. Therefore, everyone must maintain peace”.
“The government has listened to your cries, we urge you to maintain the peace as we will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law on erring members when caught.”
