5 injured, 20 vehicles damaged as transport unions clash in Ogun

Category: News Published on Friday, 15 February 2013 05:00 Written by Kehinde Akinyemi, Abeokuta

No fewer than five persons were injured, while about 20 vehicles were damaged yesterday when two factions of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) clashed in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

The clash, which started at Kuto park in Abeokuta South Local Government Area spilled to the Ita Oshin park along the Old Abeokuta Lagos road.

Daily Trust gathered that 14 persons were arrested by security agents in connection with the clash.

Chairman of RTEAN, Mugisu Akinpelu, said seven persons sustained injuries at the Kuto motor park, but that no one was attacked at Ita-Oshin motor park.

While appealing to the government to come to their aid, the chairman said the alleged leader of the other faction, known as Toriola, has been barred from parading himself as either a member or chairman of the union.

Reacting to the clash, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, warned the transporters to be of good behaviour, saying the command will not condone any act of hooliganism or thuggery.

In a release signed by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muyiwa Adejobi, the police boss vowed to clamp down on anyone found causing unrest in the parks or any part of the state.

The statement read in part, “…the commissioner has warned transport unions in the state to maintain law and order as the command will not condone any act of hooliganism or violence. If not for the quick response of the police early this morning, the crisis by the union members at both Ita-Oshin and Kuto parks in Abeokuta would have degenerated. Normalcy has since returned to the area as our men are on ground to forestall any reprisal attack.”