Panic as gunfire rocks Ibadan as NURTW factions clash

Sola Adeyemo, Ibadan

There was panic on Saturday at the Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan as two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) members clashed.

Trouble started after a former chairman of the union in the state, Mukaila Lamidi (a.k.a Auxiliary), in company with some of his men and two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stormed the house of an estranged aide, Musliudeen Muideen, with some dangerous weapons.

According to residents, Muideen and members of his household were attacked and beaten. While the melee lasted, gunfire rocked the community, causing panic.

Auxiliary, however, said that the claim was not true, alleging that some members of the union, were out to paint him black, to make Governor Seyi Makinde to stop his impending announcement as the new NURTW chairman.

Auxiliary who spoke through one of his aides, Alhaji Ahmed Raheem, said the allegation was an attempt to destroy his reputation, stating that as a peace- loving person, he would never engage in acts that would bring disrepute to the state.

Raheem disclosed that Auxiliary had intelligence report that some hoodlums were planning to attack people to tarnish his name, and went there with the NSCDC officials to arrest them. Subsequently, the alleged people were handed them over to operatives of the state Joint Security Task Force, “Operation Burst.”

Muideen, while speaking with journalists on Sunday, said his house was invaded by six vehicles loaded with NURTW members and two NSCDC men. Muideen, who alleged that the men brandished dangerous weapons, said that he narrowly escaped being killed.

He said that he was almost beating to death, while his family members were traumatised.  He was driven to the headquarters of the state Joint Security Task Force, and handed over to the State Commander.

Another member of NURTW, who was also attacked, Kabiru Adekunle, said he bolted from his house immediately he was informed by a source that the members of the union were heading to his home.

The two men have therefore called on Governor Seyi Makinde to save the state from being turned into a battle field.

When contacted, the Commander of the Operation Burst, Captain Osolo, confirmed that some NURTW men were brought to the outfit. He said that he released the men after he discovered that nothing incriminating was found on them.