Public outcry has continued to trail the activities of a factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers’ Union (NURTW) believed to enjoy rosy relationship with the government following the bloody fracas that ensued during the union’s election held several weeks ago.
At least two chieftains of the NURTW were reportedly killed while another, Adesuyi Jacob Abe suffered devastating bodily injuries including loss of one of his eyes during the melee.
The election which was meant to fill executive positions in the Oshodi Central Park branch of the road transport workers’ union turned deadly resulting into two deaths and wanton destruction of properties worth several billions of Naira.
Trouble reportedly started when the results of the election appeared not to favour the factional leader of the union (names withheld) who is allegedly close to governments at both the state and federal levels.
One of the two persons killed was identified as Eniola Oyebuade.
Oyebuade and another factional chieftain of the union identified as Adesuyi Abe it was gathered led a faction of the union’s workers opposed to the other faction that is believed to be close to the governments at both state and federal level.
Our correspondent further gathered that members of the faction led by Oyebuade and Abe came under attacks from members of the other factions as Oyebuade and Abe appeared to be winning the elections.
While Oyebuade was reportedly shot dead, the attack on Abe was believed to have led to the loss of one of his eyes.
Speaking on condition of anonymity during a visit to Oshodi by one of our correspondent, an operative of the union at the Oshodi Central Park Unit stated that “Abe is a dead man working,” adding that , “ anywhere we find him we will bring him down. He can’t be challenging our revered leader and still remain in our midst.”
Speaking further, the source who claimed to be one of the elected officials at the Oshodi branch of the union insisted that “We will not relent until we get him, we must revenge the death of our member that his boys killed during the election. We will find him, kill him and nothing will happen as with the killing of his ally Eniola,” he swore.
However, neighbours of Abe told our correspondent that Abe and his family no longer reside in their apartment adding that they hurriedly fled the apartment days after the union’s elections.
The neighbours said they may have fled for their lives as several gangs suspected to be NURTW members have come looking for them after they fled.
Our correspondent further gathered that on one occasion the people attempted to set the house ablaze but were repelled by neighbours and local vigilante forces.
“The only thing I can say is that he and his family no longer live here, they hurriedly moved out after the elections of union people.
“They must have run for their lives. At one time some people came to look for them and when they were nowhere to be found the gangs tried to set their house on fire; they were prevented and chased away by people of the community with help from our local vigilantes,” the neighbour who gave his name simply as Abioro stated.
Another neighbour who declined to State his name told our correspondent that “We know the people behind the mayhem that followed the elections and we know that the perpetrators are alive and walking freely, even boasting that they’re untouchable. I think it is time government check their excesses.”
