NURTW Crisis: Police arrest 5 as MC Oluomo, Istijabah Loyalists Clash in Lagos

 The crisis rocking the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Lagos State, yesterday, deepened as loyalists of the newly appointed Chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and Chairman of Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, TOOAN, Azeez Ajibola, popularly known as Istijabah, clashed at the Ayobo area of the state.

The situation was, however, brought under control by security agents, who stormed the area.

However, upon the ban on activities of the NURTW by the Lagos State Government, he was said to have opted out of the union to join MC Oloumo’s group.

But he insisted on maintaining the supervision of the garage, a decision that reportedly did not augur well with Isitjabah, who was quoted to have told him to go and meet Oluomo to give him another garage to manage.

We had no role in clash —Oluomo
When contacted, Personal Assistant to Oluomo, Buhari Jimoh, stated that Oluomo’s loyalists played no role in the fight.

He said: “The clash was between Isitjabah and one of his executives, who wanted to leave the NURTW since the government had suspended its activities in Lagos.

“As a former member of the executive, he controls a garage. But Isitjabah’s boys prevented him from operating in the garage. The man went to get policemen to man his garage yesterday. But when the policemen left, Isitjabah’s boys invaded the garage again.”

Istijabah reacts
On his part, Isitjabah accused Oluomo of allegedly taking over 20 parks and garages that were under TOOAN’s supervision.

According to him, the initial promise by Oluomo was not to forcefully collect any park from NURTW members.

One of his aides, identified as Moshood, said: “My boss is an easy-going person. We have been waiting for the meeting between Oluomo and other executive members of NURTW to discuss how the garages and parks would be shared without violence.”

Police arrest 5 suspects
Meanwhile, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, yesterday, arrested five people in connection with the crisis.

As of the time of writing this report, policemen and soldiers were stationed in the affected areas.

Also, shop owners, who had locked up for fear of losing their wares to hoodlums, had reopened.