Following the crisis that occurred at Idumota on January 20, 2022, the Lagos State Police Command has arrested two more suspects, Akeem Agboola aka “Okoro” and Idowu Johnson after the initial apprehension of Kunle Poly and Sego.
This was just as the Lagos State Government ordered an indefinite suspension of the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Eyin Eyo, Church Street and Idumota Bridges a result of the violence which erupted in the areas recently.
The suspension was said to be in a bid to fulfill one of the cardinal objectives of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the current administration in relation to security and good governance under traffic management and transportation.
This was made known on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola.
At a stakeholders meeting comprising the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Central Business District (CBD) and Lagos State Market Women Association (Iya Oloja General and Iya Oloja of Lagos Island) at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre to tackle crisis often caused by the activities of the union, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka issued the ban to prevent further acts of violence at Idumota, adding that the Lagos State Parks Monitoring Authority would resume at Eyin Eyo.
Fayinka further stated that the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) would put an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) on Idumota Bridge to deter motorists from driving against traffic in compliance with traffic rules and tegulations and to enforce the suspension of the NURTW within the axis and simultaneously flush out the Oju Opake boys lurking along Plaza around Church Street axis.
Also suspended were the activities of the transport union at Church Street and John Street particularly Keke Marwa and mini buses.
The Transport Special Adviser added that the RRS and the state police command in general would ensure safety of lives in the area.
“State Security Operatives are hereby put on red alert to ensure safety and Security of lives and property in Lagos Island and environs,” Fayinka stated.
Appreciating the position just taken by state government, the Iya Oloja, Lagos Island Alhaja Risikat Odumosu expressed her displeasure at the wanton looting and destruction of their goods in shops around Idumota area, appealing to the state government to come to their rescue.
She stated further that they would not stand back and watch their property being destroyed by miscreants.
Meanwhile, the NURTW has condemned the clash with its attendant killings and injuries, saying that it was not party to violence.
It will be recalled that the unrest by the NURTW members reportedly led to the death of people yet to be identified at Idumota axis of Lagos last week.
In condemnation of the killings and attacks among the members, the NURTW president, Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, in a statement on Tuesday, January 25, said that the union was not in support of such dastardly acts and dissociated itself from it.
He said: “According to reports and viral videos in the public domain, it is certain that an unconfirmed number of lives were lost during this ugly incident, and the union will not rest until faces behind these actions are fished out.
“We want to assure you that NURTW is not in support of such conduct and the ugly incident that occurred at idumota axis of Lagos Island, and we are disassociating the body from any act that is capable of promoting spilling of blood and paralysing businesses, as witnessed a few days ago in Lagos.
“In ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to end such conduct going forward, the union will be working with the Lagos State Government, security agencies, and other stakeholders to investigate as well as go after persons or groups that are behind this re-occurring barbaric display that led to the loss of lives and several property in the community.”
The NURTW president also stated that “the Union has followed the incident that brought Lagos island to a chaotic situation, posing danger to lives and property and grounding business activities in the area.
“We hereby assure Lagosians, as the national body of NURTW, that something will be done to end such conduct. We cannot continue this way, putting a bad image on the entirety of the Union. This is unacceptable.
“The union is tendering its unreserved apology to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, entire Lagosians over inconvenience the ugly incident may have caused the state, its law-abiding people, businesses that suffered the unrest, most.
“We commend the state government on the quick intervention that brought calm to the community, and the body is assuring the government that all erring members who took to violence instead of peace will not go unpunished.
“We are using this medium to pass a strong message to the union members in Lagos at large, that the state council executive and NURTW operations in the state entirely may be suspended indefinitely to allow investigation on the incident to be carried out diligently.
“However, consultations are ongoing with the state government, security agencies, and other stakeholders to reach an arrangement on next line of actions which would be determined by the outcome of the reached agreement.
“The state council executive and entire members of the union should bear it in mind that notice of further action will be communicated upon conclusion by the apex body of the union.
“We sympathize with the families of the people that lost their lives during the incident and pray to God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.”
