Two injured as NURTW factions clash in Oshodi

OSHODI was tense yesterday as National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) factions fought over control of parks.

A faction gathered at Bolade bus stop, the other, on Brown Street, wielding sticks, cutlasses and other weapons.

Some traders hurriedly locked their shops for fear of being attacked; others stood far off, watching.

Some Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives with their Armoured Personnel Carrier were seen at Adekoya Street junction, monitoring the situation.

For over an hour, vehicles coming from Ikeja were held in traffic. They couldn’t go beyond Bolade.

Many motorists turned back in front of The Arena shopping complex.

Those coming from Mushin could not go beyond under the bridge, where they made a U-Turn.

An eyewitness, Segun Olawale, said the miscreants were fighting over ownership of parks.

“Can you imagine their level of rascality?  My findings were that miscreants are fighting over who to collect Agbero money. Some, who called themselves Omo Onilu (indigenous) are clashing with Omoluoke (foreign),” he said.

Another eyewitness, Sulayman Alamutu, a journalist described the atmosphere as scary, saying: ”The hoodlums holding bottles, big sticks and weapons were heading towards the Oshodi Isale where policemen are stationed with their guns and armoured tank.”

He added: ”As at the time we passed Bolade, the place was deserted; the traders had locked their shops while commuters walked in hastened steps. Gun-wielding policemen positioned themselves at Adekoya Street with an armoured tank.”

The Nation leant that two persons were injured in the fracas.

A source said hoodlums stormed an unnamed hospital on learning that an injured rival was being treated there.

Another group attacked an unnamed hotel which some touts use as hideout.

The situation was brought under control when an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) led some RRS operatives to talk to the rival factions.

Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni led RRS Commander ACP Olatunji Disu and Chairman, Lagos State Task Force, Bukola Abe to visit the scene.