Many injured as thugs fight over park control

Many people were injured yesterday as two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), clashed over who would take control of a park in Bolande axis of Oshodi.

The clash between the two factions witnessed many injured. The conflict, which started around 8pm, took off around the Bolande Oshodi axis, with many of the faction members wielding dangerous weapons.

As usual the fight was over who would head a particular park at Bolande. Trying to settle the lingering dispute, one of the leaders was said to have been suspended. The suspension however didn’t go down well with some of his supporters.  This triggered the bloody fight yesterday.

People heading to offices scampered for safety. Traders, who had earlier opened shops, quickly locked up.

Although it was claimed that some people were killed, but no corpse was seen. Commuters were however stranded as they waited for the clashing members to simmer down.

A trader, under Oshodi Bridge said: “When I got to the area in the morning, I saw the men fighting. They were armed with broken bottles. Operatives of RRS came to the area and restored normalcy.”
Another trader said: “I saw the NURTW men fighting. I had to hide for my life. The government has to put a stop to these endless fights. Innocent people are always affected by the ceaseless fight.”
Policemen from the Area F Police Command and operatives from the RRS were at Oshodi to restore peace.


The RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu said: “We received a distressed call concerning Oshodi and we swung into action and together with other people men from the Area F police Command led by the Area Commander, we restored peace. Oshodi is peaceful now. People can go about their duties. Our men are on ground to prevent any hostility in the area.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmus, said police were on top of the situation, stressing that no one died in the clash.
Badmus said the clash was between members of the NURTW.
She added: "Members of NURTW clashed at Oshodi over who would become the chairman of the union in the area. Policemen have been deployed to the scene to restore normalcy. As I'm speaking with you now, normalcy has returned in the area. Nobody was killed during the fight. Police are still investigating."