7th March, 2012
In a manner reminiscent of a guerilla warfare, Lawanson Motor Park and its environs were engulfed in chaos and commotion this morning as two rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, engaged each other in a supremacy battle over who controls the park.
An eyewitness told P.M.NEWS that as early as 7.30 a.m. there were sporadic gunshots leading to instant closure of shops in the area. Banks around the vicinity also closed their doors to customers.
Passersby and workers who were going to their offices scampered to safety.
It was gathered that the battle ensued between the two factions with each of them wielding dangerous weapons such as, pistols, pump action guns charms cutlasses, knives and axes.
A lady simply identified as Alimot was shot and injured and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Several others were also reported injured.
When P.M.NEWS arrived he scene, armed policemen have already taken over the scene of the battle. The Divisional Police Officer, DPO Itire Police Division, Mr. A. A. Oyekan was at the scene dishing out instructions to his men. There was more reinforcement with an armoured personnel carrier deployed there.
The Lawanson motor park was littered with broken bottles, cudgels, sticks and other weapons used in the battle.
One of the drivers who spoke with P.M.NEWS on condition of anonimity blamed the NURTW crisis on its erstwhile leader.
“Having realised he had been removed as chairman, he sent his boys to take over the park, which we resisted and we shall continue to resist,” the union member alleged.
He added that the sacked leaders tenure was too oppressive as the levy he impossed on them was too high for them to bear.
The driver said some of their members could no longer pay their children’s school fees while the majority are jobless.
After the dust had settled down, some drivers carried placards to protest the alleged intrusion of the Lawanson Motor Park by the ex-leader’s boys. They vowed to resist future attack by the invaders.
As at press time, the situation remained tense. Commuters were forced to move to a far distance to board commuter buses to their various destinations.
Meanwhile, the NURTW faction that carried out the attack were inside the Lawanson Motor Park jubilating that they had succeeded in taking over the park.
Similarly, the unending Lagos Island factional youth gang war, claimed the life of a tailor and resident of Lafiaji, identified as Daniel Adeyemi on Monday.
The incident occurred at about 9 p.m. on Monday at Sangrouse bus stop, Lagos Island, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
Eyewitness told P.M.NEWS that at least 20 hoodlums armed with guns invaded Sangrose Market and the bus stop from Beecroft, Osho and other streets, shooting sporadically and firing at the victim who died instantly.
The rampaging hoodlums were said to have capitalised on the removal of Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC and policemen deployed to Sangrouse Market by the police authorities to perpetrate the dastardly act.
They were also said to have robbed shop owners and snatched hand bags of innocent people in the ensuing commotion, while scores of people sustained various injuries.
Narrating the incident to P.M.NEWS at Sangrouse, Adekunle Qudus, who claimed to be a friend of the deceased, said they were having a meal before the incident occurred.
“I and the deceased, Adeyemi, were having a meal of amala at a food joint at Sangrouse bus stop at about 9 p.m. when suddenly thugs numbering about 20 led by some people I recognised started to fire sporadically and they invaded Sangrose bus stop. They shot everywhere and one of the bullets hit my friend, on his chest and he fell to the ground.
“Before we could rush him to the hospital, he died.
“ The hoodlums,” he continued, “capitalised on the removal of the APC tank stationed at Sangrouse Market by the police on Sunday night to perpetrate the dastardly act.
They killed my friend so as to drag Lafiaji youths into the senseless crisis which have claimed innocent lives on Lagos Island.
“Nobody can force us into any meaningless crises, no matter the provocation. This is because we are civilised and nobody can fool us to do their biddings.
“We are now appealing to the government and the police to find lasting solutions to these crises before it gets out of hand. We must realise that life is sacred and people must desist from using the crises to rob and commit other vices,” he stated.
The police have returned the APC tank to Sangrouse as normalcy has returned to the troubled spot.
—Akin Kuponiyi & Paul Iyoghojie