Hoodlums On The Rampage In Ogun, Injure 7

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Hoodlums went on the rampage Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, southwest Nigeria.

They invaded two motor parks in Kuto and Ita-Oshin, and injured seven people. They also vandalised 20 vehicles during the incident.

P.M.NEWS gathered that the fracas erupted as a result of the alleged plan by a faction of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, in the state to sack the officers of the union by force.

There was heavy presence of policemen in Kuto Motor Park after the violent attack, while those injured were reportedly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta for treatment.

Our correspondent gathered from the police spokesman in the state, ASP Muyiwa Adejobi that fourteen persons have been arrested by the security agencies in connection with the attack.

The Chairman of RTEAN in the state, Alhaji Mugisu Akinpelu, disclosed that seven persons sustained injuries at Kuto Motor Park but no one was attacked at Ita-Oshin motor park.

While appealing to the government to come to their aid, he said the leader of the hoodlums had been barred from
parading himself as a member or chairman of the union.

“We had got the hint that the other faction was going to unleash terror on us, that was why, the SSS patrolled the motor parks and eventually arrested fourteen out of them,” Akinpelu added.

He said six of the suspects were arrested by SSS, three were nabbed by SARS, and five were arrested by policemen from Ibara police station.

The state police spokesman, Adejobi in a press statement sent to newsmen said the Commissioner of Police in Ogun state, Ikemefuna Okoye, has warned the transport unions in the state to maintain law and order as the command would not condone any act of hooliganism or violence.