10th February, 2011
There was confusion at the Lagos State secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Abule Egba, Tuesday when about 30 hoodlums attacked an executive of the union, Alhaji Fatai Adeshina, head of the Saudi (Phase one) unit of the transport union in Oshodi, Lagos.
P.M.NEWS gathered that Adeshina, who is also the ‘Akeweje’ of Egbedaland, was attacked when he honoured an invitation by the state chairman of the union, Alhaji Rafiu Akanni Olohunwa, to his office to find solution to the protracted crisis in the unit of the union.
The meeting was, however, aborted when some hoodlums wielding dangerous weapons attacked Adeshina at the entrance of the union’s secretariat.
Investigations revealed that Olohunwa too managed to escape the wrath of the attackers who had laid an ambush for Adeshina at the secretariat.
Adeshina’s three phones, including a Black Berry, N120,000 and jewellery were taken away from him by the hoodlums.
“I was hit with the butt of a gun, macheted on my toe and beaten to a pulp,†Adeshina, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in Alimosho recounted.
Narrating the genesis of the attack, Adeshina said his trouble started last year when he went on holy pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia and received several calls from some people who threatened to take his life if he does not keep away from the motor park.
“I defied their threat and returned to the country. The disgruntled men hired thugs who came to my house in Egbeda several times, especially at night, to molest my family. Now, my wife and kids have relocated due to the incessant attacks,†he explained, adding that initially he did not take the attacks seriously, until he was advised to report the matter at the Police headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, the culprits were arrested, quizzed and detained but resumed the attacks immediately they were freed by the police.
Lamenting the helplessness of the NURTW leadership to deal with the thugs, Adeshina who is also the vice chairman of Odi-Olowo branch of the union, disclosed that the new president of the union, Najeem Usman Yasin tried in vain to call them to order but they were adamant.
“It was on this premise that Olohunwa summoned the meeting that later turned out to be a bloody attack on me. I fainted during the attack. I thank our vice chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, who rushed me to a private hospital,†he added.
Incessant attacks and killings among members of the NURTW in Lagos State have become rampant since last year when the state treasurer of the union, Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya was attacked and his driver killed.
Adeshina, as at the time of filing this report, was still on admission in a private hospital in Lagos.