Gunshots have been reportedly fired as rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers allegedly clashed in the Obalende Area of Lagos State on Thursday morning.
The clash which started around 8am, as learnt, led to panic in the area as motorists, passengers and passersby scampered for safety.
The fight was said to have started with gunshots at about 8am and lingered till 9am.
Following the gunshots, residents, commuters and road users were said to have scampered for safety until the situation was brought under control by law enforcement operatives.
Though there were two sides to the incident as an eye witness attributed the incident to the internal crises between two factions of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) while another said it was occasioned by cultism.
It was gathered that scores of commuters were stranded as commercial drivers in the axis were said to have boycotted the axis. An eye witness simply identified as “Bayou” described the day as scary.
He said, “it was a scary day in Obalende, in Ikoyi as residents were seen running for their dear lives. Series of gunshots were heard in the area around 8 am which continued till about 9 am.
“We heard that the shootings were by rival cult members trying to resolve their differences violently. While this lasted, commuters were stock as there was no movement around Obalende and it environs,”.
Another eye witness, Comrade Olaoye Johnson, said the clash was between two factions of NURTW in the area.
According to him, “until the transport union is proscribed or made optional, we won’t have peace in Lagos and any state of their operation. It is the magnitude of funds realised by one of the factions that is making the rival group stage an attack and both parties won’t let go until death comes. Lagos State elders and leaders are also culpable,” said the comrade.
It was gathered that Policemen later arrived at the scene to quell the fight.
Efforts to get the reaction of Lagos State NURTW Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, was unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls.
(Vanguard)
