NURTW, Drivers Clash In Ibadan Over Park Levies

Bamidele Olowosagba,

Latest reports inform that properties worth millions of naira were vandalised on Tuesday, 28 October, 2014 as a result of a clash that happened between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW and truck drivers at Express Quarry Nigeria Limited, on Kilometre 15, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ekefa Village, Ibadan, Oyo State.
No fewer than 27 cars and 17 trucks were vandalised during the tragic incident, according to Punch report.
It was gathered that the fight broke out over the payment of N2, 500 by each truck driver to the NURTW.
Eyewitnesses informed newsmen that due to the dangerous weapons that were used in the fight, many people were injured and taken to the hospital.
It was gathered that prior to the clash, members of the Oluyole Ibadan Granites Sellers and Hauler Association; truck owners, as well as drivers had staged a protest on Monday against further payment of the money to the NURTW office at the quarry.
Investigation revealed that the issue degenerated when some NURTW leaders visited the scene of the incident on Tuesday.
Reports say the fight that ensued afterwards caused heavy traffic along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway as vehicles heading towards Ibadan were stuck in the traffic until policemen from the Oyo State Area Command came to restore peace.

 

Also, some businessmen who had come to the quarry to purchase granite were said to have incurred huge financial losses as a result of the chaos.

Among the victims of the incident, Dada Oyebamiji, said he lost N1.4m while another businessman, Segun Adesina, said he lost N350, 000.
When newsmen visited the scene of the incident on Wednesday, anti-riot policemen, two armoured personnel carriers, six police vans and a Black Maria were seen there.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Kola Sodipo, who paid a visit to the scene of the incident, urged all those involved in the fracas to maintain peace.
The police boss also promised that those behind the incident would be brought to book.