Pandemonium broke out in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday as members of rival transport unions clashed, leaving at least five people injured and hospitalised.
According to The PUNCH, the incident reportedly disrupted commercial activities around the Idi-Araba and Itakudimo areas of the state capital, forcing residents and motorists to flee as the violence escalated.
The clash was said to have followed an alleged attack on the office of the National Association of Road Transport Owners.
A resident, Mubaraq Bello, said some youths arrived in tricycles and allegedly moved towards the NARTO office with dangerous weapons.
He said, “We suddenly saw some youths alighting from tricycles with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons before moving towards the NARTO office. Some of them started throwing stones at the building, and that was when the situation became tense.”
A NARTO member, Abubakar Olatunbosun, alleged that members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria and Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria attacked members of his association.
According to him, the alleged attack occurred while NARTO members were heading to the Kwara State Police Headquarters to seek intervention in the dispute.
He said, “We were on our way to the police headquarters when we were attacked by members of the other unions. More than 100 tricycles belonging to our members have also been seized, and we are appealing to the state government to intervene before the situation gets out of hand.”
Olatunbosun said NARTO members would not resort to self-help, adding that the association would pursue the matter through lawful means.
Two injured tricycle operators, Abdulwasiu Jamiu and Lukman Iyanda, also alleged that their vehicles were seized during the violence.
Jamiu said several operators were attacked, while Iyanda claimed he sustained an injury to his hand while working at Itakudimo.
Meanwhile, the Financial Secretary of the Kwara State Tricycle Riders, Abdullahi Abdulraheem, alleged that tricycles operating on major roads were being impounded following a directive purportedly issued by the Commissioner for Transportation, Aliyu Korasabi.
He claimed that the alleged seizures had prevented many riders from earning their livelihoods.
“We have chosen to work for our daily bread. We do not want to engage in theft, banditry or any other illegal activity, but we are being deprived of the opportunity to work,” Abdulraheem said.
Another operator, Mustapha Abdulateef, blamed the dispute partly on the cost of union tickets, alleged harassment by security personnel and other challenges faced by tricycle operators.
He urged the government to allow operators to belong to unions of their choice.
However, the Kwara State Ministry of Transportation denied allegations of bias, intimidation and preferential treatment among transport unions.
In a statement issued by its Press Secretary, Alabere Ahmed, the ministry described the allegations as unfounded and said it had maintained a neutral position in the dispute.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Korasabi, said the government’s responsibility was to ensure that transport operations were conducted lawfully and fairly.
He said, “The Ministry of Transportation has no arrangement or special treatment for any transport union in the state. Our sole mandate is to continue coordinating the operations of all transport sectors in a lawful and equitable manner.”
Korasabi said the dispute involving NARTO, NURTW, RTEAN and TOAN had been addressed on several occasions with relevant stakeholders, but efforts to reach a lasting resolution had yet to succeed.
He added that the matter was currently before a court, which had directed the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.
The commissioner also denied that the ministry ordered the impoundment of tricycles, saying the action was carried out by other parties involved in the dispute.
The ministry said the police intervened to prevent the disagreement from escalating, while the affected tricycles were kept in custody as a precautionary measure against damage or theft.
The state government urged residents to disregard what it described as unsubstantiated allegations against the ministry and advised the parties involved to avoid actions capable of worsening the situation while the court case remained pending.
It reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the dispute peacefully and ensuring an orderly transport system in the state.
