Rival Lagos Drivers’ Unions In Bloody Clash In Igando Over Tickets

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

There was a bloody clash between the members of National Union of Road Transporter Workers, NURTW and Motorcycles operators affiliated to Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN on Monday over sale of tickets in Lagos, Nigeria.
Several operators who are victims of machetes cuts and gun shot were wounded and rushed to Igando General Hospital for treatment.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered there were no record of deaths, but many of the victims are in critical condition and some may not survive it.

Sources told our correspondents that the NURTW men invaded some parks in Igando, Akesan, and Egan areas all suburbs of Lagos and attacked the ‘Okada’ riders for not buying their tickets.
P.M.EXPRESS also learnt that today’s invasion was not the first time the drivers’ union will cause mayhem in those areas as the riders have been attacked severally and non-stop for about three months.
The bloody fight which started at about 8.00 am lasted for several hours before the police team led by Idimu Area M Commander, ACP Austines Akika brought the situation under control.
Before then, both workers and passersby have already sustained injury.
The police had to use their vehicles to take the victims to the hospital because of their critical condition.
P.M EXPRESS gathered the cause of the fight was over the control of ticket sales at the various parks in Igando area.
It was learnt that NURTW increased their ticket sales from N500 to N1100 and the operators insisted that they cannot afford to pay such money.

They were reportedly ordered to pay or move over to another association that will collect less.
The operators then decided to affiliate with RTEAN who are collecting only N250 daily from them.
This angered the NURTW leaders who allegedly mobilized armed thugs and invaded the parks and attacked the operators.
When our correspondent contacted the Chairman of RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, he was not in the office to comment on the matter.
When contacted on phone, he said he was in Alausa in Ikeja over the matter.
When our correspondent also contacted the Lagos Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Dolapo Badmos, who confirmed that there was such incident and the police have since commenced investigation.