In a sweeping terse statement earlier on Monday, the Lagos State Government has banned transport unionism in Oshodi, one of the busiest informal sector catchment suburbs of the state that is close to the International Airport.
Investigations by our correspondent showed that since last week Thursday till Monday when the ban order was issued, the axis has known no peace due to the murder of a popular union leader, Rasak Bello, nicknamed Hamburger.
Hamburger was killed last Monday in the aftermath of the violence that broke out in Shogunle, Oshodi during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Councillorship primaries. He was buried on Friday, June 2, amid fears of reprisal attack from loyalists of the warring factions.
The group had accused a top official of the Oshodi branch of NURTW of being behind the killing of Hamburger. The official has also been accused of keeping a killer squad in the community.
Whereas a group has called for independent probe into Hamburger’s death, the three gladiators in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Oshodi factional clash have been arrested by officers of the Governor’s Task Force over the weekend.
However, the continued tension which entered early hours of Monday compelled the state government to issue the ban order.
Details show that the notorious suspects, popularly called Taloo, Alayoo and Ijee were arrested by the Olayinka Egbeyemi-led task force, following a prolonged crisis that has rocked Mafolukwu and other parts of Oshodi after the killing of the chairman of tricycle operators in the area, Chief Aro Razak Bello, popularly known as Hamburger.
Already, the State government has also assured members of the public of safety of lives and property around Mafoluku, Shogunle, Sadiku, Ladipo and the entire Oshodi area of the state.
This is as the activities of the NURTW officials across the entire Oshodi area is presently under the control of the state’s task force and other security agencies who were strategically positioned for the maintenance of peace and order.
At the height of the tension, Lagos Police chief, Mr. Fatai Owoseni said “The different warring factional leaders of the NURTW and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) trying to foment trouble around Mafoluku, Shogunle, Sadiku, Ladipo and Oshodi with their supporters have been arrested and are presently being interrogated”.
The group, Oshodi Collectives (OC) has appealed to the Lagos State government and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to expedite action in investigating and subsequently arresting those responsible for the death of 49-year old chairman of the Lagos State Motorcycles Owners Association in Oshodi, Chief Aro Bello Rasak.
