By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin
No fewer than five persons were reportedly injured during a clash between members of rival transport unions in Ilorin, Kwara State on Monday.
Vanguard reliably gathered that pandemonium erupted around Idi-Araba and Itakudimo areas of the metropolis following an alleged attack on an office of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO).
The incident forced residents and motorists to flee the area as the clash escalated.
A resident of the area, Mr Mubaraq Bello, said they were at home when they suddenly saw some youths alight from tricycles armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
According to him, the youths moved towards the NARTO office, with some allegedly throwing stones at the building.
A NARTO member, Abubakar Olatunbosun, alleged that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Tricycle Owners’ Association of Nigeria (TOAN) attacked them while they were on their way to the Police headquarters in Ilorin.
Olatunbosun appealed to the Kwara State government to intervene in the matter, saying NARTO members respect the law and would not take the law into their own hands because Kwara is known for peace.
He also alleged that over 100 tricycles belonging to their members had been seized by the other unions.
A victim, Abdulwasiu Jamiu, alleged that members of the unions attacked them, forcefully took away their tricycles and inflicted injuries on some of them.
Another victim, Lukman Iyanda, who reportedly sustained a broken hand, said he was attacked at Itakudimo while operating his tricycle.
However, a member of RTEAN, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that NARTO is an unregistered association and is not recognised by the government.
Efforts to reach representatives of the other unions for their reactions were futile as of the time of filing this report.
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