UPDATE: Oyo govt bans NURTW, takes over motor parks

The Oyo state government has banned the state chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and its activities indefinitely.

By the proscription, all activities of the union are rendered illegal, while the state government takes over all motor parks in the state forthwith.

Chief of staff to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr Bisi Ilaka conveyed this development while addressing journalists at governor’s office, Ibadan, on Friday.

Reading a speech signed by Governor Seyi Makinde, Ilaka added that the state government had mandated the combined security task force to maintain peace and order across the state.

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The development was among consensuses reached at a three-hour meeting Makinde held with security chiefs at governor’s office, on Thursday evening, at the instance of renewed clashes among some NURTW members around parts of the state capital, same day.

“After today’s deliberation with security stakeholders meeting, involving security chiefs and the government, we have resolved to proscribe the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) until further notice.

“All activities of the union remain illegal henceforth and we urge the people of the state to go about their lawful duties without fear of molestation, as combined security task force in every community of the state, have been charged to take control and maintain peace and order.

“To this end, all parks in the state have been taken over by the state government with immediate effect,” Ilaka read.

Also discussed at Thursday’s meeting were reported instances of kidnappings in Ibarapa zone and the probable existence of foreign elements in forests of Oke-Ogun, Ibarapa and other parts of the state.

“We have challenges security-wise in the state. We discussed NURTW, the spate of kidnappings along Iseyin/Ibarapa road, challenges with some foreign elements camping the forest in Oke-Ogun and along the road going to Ijebu-Ode,” Makinde had said at the end of Thursday’s meeting.