NURTW member shot in Osogbo as police clash with suspected hoodlums

THERE was commotion in Osogbo, capital city of Osun on Wednesday when a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW) simply identified as Afeez was allegedly shot around Old Garage motor park while some policemen were attempting to raid a black spot located in the vicinity.

Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that some security operatives from Dugbe police station around 9.00 am stormed the Lagos park of the motor garage to apprehend some hoodlums, who have turned a section close to railway line to smoking joints, where cannabis sativa, popularly known as Indian Hemp were being sold when the incident occurred.

One of the commercial drivers, who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity informed our correspondent that some of the hoodlums allegedly attacked the policemen with stones, a development which compelled them to shoot indiscriminately.

ALSO READ: FRSC reports decrease in deaths from road traffic crashes in Gombe

According to him, in the ensuing melee, Afeez was allegedly hit by bullet, just as people around the area, including drivers, passengers and hawkers scampered to safety to avoid being caught up in the pandemonium.

Some drivers and other suspected hoodlums were subsequently arrested, while the victim, who was allegedly shot was later rushed to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital by operatives of Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) who were mobilised to the area to quell the clash.

Another driver who narrated the incident to journalists lamented that “over 15 of our members have been arrested, how could they have barricaded our park claiming to have come to arrest those who are fighting. How should friction amongst some street urchins who are not our members affect our business, that was the reason why we questioned the action, and the only thing they could do was to shoot one of our members.”

The chairman of the NURTW of the Lagos motor park, commercial bus unit, Mr. Kazeem also known as Asiri Eniba was also arrested alongside other drivers by officers of the FSARS for questioning, just as an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed at the scene of the clash.

When contacted, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fimihan Adeoye told our correspondent to liase with the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Folasade Odoro for a statement over the incident. But, several calls put through to the cell phone of the PPRO were ignored as of the time of filing this report.