Hoodlums on Monday allegedly attacked members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers at motor parks around the Old Garage, Ilesa Garage, Oke-Baale and Old Coca-Cola areas in Osogbo, Osun State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the transport union members were at their duty posts when the armed hoodlums invaded the motor parks, shot sporadically, causing tension that made passengers, passersby, transport workers, among others, scamper to safety to avoid being struck down by bullets.
It was learnt that the clashes later spread to the Ayetoro area where a member of the NURTW was reportedly attacked with a machete.
The yet-to-be-identified victim was said to have abandoned his vehicle, ran to safety, after which the hoodlums set his vehicle ablaze.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the state Secretary of the Union, Osundiya Akinsola, while confirming the attack, said he was ferried to safety by some policemen who responded to distress call when the hoodlums invaded the area.
Akinsola said, “Our Financial Secretary, Sunday Akinwale, was attacked. Our state secretariat was vandalised. Our park at Old Coca Cola Area in Osogbo was attacked, our members at Ijetu motorpark in Osogbo were attacked.
“A bus and a Toyota Sienna vehicle belonging to the financial secretary were vandalised at our state secretariat. Those that perpetrated the attack are still there presently.
“In all, over 10 members were attacked and injured. This number included those that were attacked in Ilesa town. Those that carried out the attack wanted to forcefully take over the leadership of the union.
“The ringleader of the attack is not one of our officials. He wanted to forcefully take over the union. He has shown interest in becoming the state Chairman and his ambition is against the constitution of our union. We have informed the police, the Department of State Services and even the family of the new governor about activities of these miscreants.”
Contacted for a reaction, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, did not pick her calls nor respond to a text message sent to her phone number as of the time of filing this report.
Reacting, the spokesperson for state governor, Ademola Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement, warned against violence as he directed security agencies to maintain law and order in the state.
The statement read, “The Governor, Senator Adeleke, has warned against violence among transport workers’ unions in the state, directing security agencies to maintain status quo across the motor parks.
“All union leaders and their supporters are hereby directed to remain calm and bring any grievances to the state government for resolution. Security agencies are consequently directed to maintain law and order.”
