TRANSPORT UNION DISPUTE TURNS VIOLENT IN ILORIN, SEVERAL INJURED

At least five people have been hospitalised following a violent confrontation involving members of rival transport unions in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The incident occurred on Monday around the Idi-Araba and Itakudimo areas of the city, disrupting normal activities and causing residents and motorists to flee as the confrontation escalated.

The violence was reportedly linked to an alleged attack on the office of the National Association of Road Transport Owners. A resident, Mubaraq Bello, said some youths arrived in tricycles carrying cutlasses and other weapons before moving towards the NARTO office and throwing stones at the building.

A NARTO member, Abubakar Olatunbosun, accused members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria and the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria of being involved in the attack.

Olatunbosun claimed that NARTO members were heading to the Kwara State Police Headquarters to seek official intervention in the dispute when they were attacked.

He also alleged that more than 100 tricycles belonging to NARTO members had been seized during the dispute, appealing to the state government to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.

The association, however, said it would not resort to violence or self-help, maintaining that it preferred to pursue the matter through lawful channels.

Two injured tricycle operators, Abdulwasiu Jamiu and Lukman Iyanda, also recounted their experiences during the confrontation. Jamiu alleged that some operators were assaulted and had their tricycles taken away, while Iyanda said he sustained an injury to his hand after he was attacked while working around Itakudimo.

The dispute appears to have been fuelled by disagreements surrounding the operation of tricycles and the activities of transport unions in parts of Kwara State.

The Financial Secretary of the Kwara State Tricycle Riders, Abdullahi Abdulraheem, also raised concerns over the alleged seizure of tricycles operating on major roads. He claimed the action followed a directive allegedly issued by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Aliyu Korasabi.

According to Abdulraheem, the alleged seizures have affected the ability of many tricycle operators to earn their daily income. He appealed to the government to address the situation and prevent further confrontation between the various transport groups.

He further claimed that a court order had previously permitted tricycle operators to carry out their activities without harassment or interference.

However, the Kwara State Ministry of Transportation rejected allegations that it had taken sides in the dispute or intimidated any of the transport unions.

In a statement issued by its Press Secretary, Alabere Ahmed, the ministry described the allegations as unfounded and maintained that it had remained neutral in the disagreement involving the various transport groups.

The latest clash has heightened concerns over the need for authorities and transport unions in the state to resolve their differences through dialogue and lawful procedures to prevent further violence and disruption of commercial activities.