Four members, including the Vice-Chairman of the Road Transport
Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ondo town, Alhaji
Alimi Arowosola, today sustained injuries, following a bloody clash between his group and the rival National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the town.
One of the victims who gave his name as Lukman Saibu,at the emergency unit of the Ondo Specialist Hospital alleged that the attackers who were members of the NURTW were led by the branch chairman, Ondo-Lagos unit , Mr. Dele Mallah.
The attack reportedly occurred within the premises of the Enuowa divisional police station in Ondo town at about 9am.
He said his members were in the police station to lodge a complaint about their vehicle, which according to him was vandalized by members of the NURTW, at Awoyaya area on the outskirts of the town.
According to him, their grouse was the refusal of the NURTW to allow them to carry passengers from Ondo town to Ore and Lagos respectively.
Saibu, alleged that the attackers who came in two Hummer
Toyota buses, one with the registration number, NND 109 XA unleashed terror at the station and inflicted injuries on him and other union members with dangerous weapons.
The branch chairman of the union,Mallam,declined comments on the matter,while broken bottles and sticks littered the premises of Enuowa Police Station where the attack took place.
Also,notable members of the union and several police officers, including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the station, Mr. Ebenezer Adegalu, a Superintendent of Police (SP) were sighted during the pandemonium.
Similarly,the Special Anti-robbery Squad(SARS)Van was also noticed around the station, apparently to prevent further crisis.
When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Ebenezer Adegalu, declined comments but a senior police officer around said nine members of the two warring Driver Unions have been arrested and moved to Akure,the State capital.
The Police Public Relations Officer
(PPRO) Wole Ogodo, confirmed the report, but stressed that he had not been properly briefed by the DPO.
