Three injured as RTEAN, NURTW clash in Lagos

THE timely intervention of the police prevented a bloodbath between two rival factions of transport unions in Igando area of Lagos State on Monday.

Two people were, however, injured in the sporadic gunshots that greeted the attempts by the two warring groups to dislodge each other.

But the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, has warned the leadership of the two unions to call their members to order, or risk being proscribed.

The Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and their rival from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were battling over the control of commercial motorcycle operation in Igando.

It was gathered that the clash started when officials of the RTEAN attempted to sell tickets to motorcycle riders in Akesan area of the state.

The attempt by the RTEAN was resisted by NURTW members in the area, and this led to a free-for-all, during which machetes and other dangerous weapons were used.

A resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Kazeem, said “in the past, it was the NURTW members who were collecting money at Akesan junction, but about two months ago, the RTEAN people clashed with them.”

While the fracas lasted, the LASU-Igando road was, for more than 30 minutes, deserted as members of the two groups threw missiles at each other.

The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident but pointed out that the police were quick to restore normalcy in the area.

Metro gathered that the state police boss called the chairmen of the two unions immediately, while warning them of the consequence of any further clash between them.