NURTW, RTEAN invade police station, injure four

At least four persons were critically injured yesterday when the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) clashed in Ondo in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The wounded included the Ondo town branch Vice-Chairman of RTEAN, Alhaji Alimi Arowosola, and three others.
The bloody clash was over the control of motor parks and the loading rights. Narrating the incident to journalists at the emergency ward of Ondo Specialist Hospital, one of the victims, Lukuman Saibu, alleged that the attackers were members of the NURTW.

According to him, they were led by the branch Chairman of the Ondo/Lagos Unit, Dele Mallah. Ironically, the fight broke out within the premises of the Enuowa Divisional Police Station in Ondo town. Saibu added that his members were in the police station to lodge a complaint about their vehicle, which was vandalised by NURTW members at Awoyaya area on the Ondo – Ore Road in Ondo town. He said NURTW had prevented his members from conveying passengers from Ondo town to Ore and Lagos.
Saibu alleged that the attackers who came in two Hummer Toyota buses, one with the registration number NND 109 XA inflicted injuries on him and other union members, using dangerous weapons such as bottles, cudgels and sticks.
However, Mallah declined to comment on the attack. Also, when NT Metro visited the Enuowa police station, about 10:30am, broken bottles and stick littered the whole place. Also sighted were notable members of the union in the area and several police officers from the division including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the station, Mr Ebenezer Adegalu. Similarly, patrol van of the Special Ant-robbery Squad (SARS) was also noticed patrolling the station, apparently to prevent further breakdown of law and order. When contacted, Adegalu refused to comment on the incident.
But, a senior police officer, who did not want his name mentioned, said nine members of both unions had been arrested and transferred to Akure. Similarly, when contacted on phone, the state Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Mr Wole Ogodo, confirmed the report. Ogodo, who said he had not been properly briefed by the DPO in charge of the station, promised to get back to our correspondent later.
Speaking on the matter, the Chairman and the General Secretary of Ondo town branch of RTEAN, Alhaji Sebeeni Obadun and Mr. Henry Ogungbemi, accused NURTW members of launching the attack.
New Telegraph