By John Dike, Osogbo
Commercial activities were disrupted across major motor parks in Osun State on Monday as members of a faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), joined by civil society organisations and student activists, staged coordinated protests demanding urgent intervention by the Nigeria Police Force over what they described as rising insecurity within the state’s transport sector.
The protesters, who assembled at various motor parks in Osogbo from about 6:30 a.m., passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of a factional chairman of the union, Alhaji Nurudeen Alowonle, accusing him of allegedly orchestrating violence that has crippled transport operations and endangered the lives of commuters and transport workers.
Carrying placards with inscriptions calling for Alowonle’s arrest and improved security across motor parks, the demonstrators temporarily disrupted activities at several parks, asking passengers and transport operators to vacate the premises while the protest lasted.
The protesters alleged that the activities of Alowonle and some of his associates had created an atmosphere of fear, forcing many transport workers out of business as passengers increasingly avoid commercial parks over security concerns.
Addressing journalists during the protest in Osogbo, the factional Secretary of the NURTW, Alhaji Fatai Oyegoke, appealed directly to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Osun State Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to intervene in what he described as a deepening crisis threatening the state’s transportation system.
Oyegoke alleged that the leadership crisis within the union had degenerated into violent attacks and reprisals, making it impossible for many members to carry out their lawful businesses.
“We are out this morning to call the attention of the Inspector-General of Police to the crisis in the NURTW in Osun. Alowonle has ignited unnecessary crisis in the state’s transportation system. He was alleged to have been in possession of arms and ammunition. We can no longer do our business, and that is our only means of livelihood,” he said.
He further alleged that Alowonle and another individual identified as Sikiru Oyeniyi, popularly known as “Ado Igona,” were linked to recent violent incidents that resulted in deaths and retaliatory attacks across motor parks in the state.
“For the past five days, Sikiru Oyeniyi, also known as Ado Igona, and Alowonle were alleged to have spearheaded the killing of Adelodun Olamilekan Lateef and many others. As a result, there have been retaliatory attacks across motor parks in Osun.
” We have been living in fear and can no longer carry out our transportation business. Police, other security agencies and non-state actors have been attacking motor parks on a daily basis,” Oyegoke alleged.
He called on the police and other security agencies to immediately strengthen security around motor parks, protect transport workers and ensure the safety of commuters across the state.
According to him, “To protect our buses and ensure public safety, we therefore call on the police and other security agencies to secure our motor parks, protect our businesses and guarantee the safety of transport workers.”
Oyegoke also urged law enforcement agencies to investigate and, where appropriate, arrest those allegedly connected with the recent attacks to restore confidence within the transport sector.
Also speaking, the Director of Mobilisation of the Local Government Development Initiative (LGDI), Comrade Omololu Abidoye, said the protest became necessary because of the alleged deterioration of security in the state.
Abidoye maintained that the safety of residents should take precedence over political interests or leadership disputes within transport unions.
“We cannot continue to remain silent. They alleged Alowonle to have spearheaded the killing of Lateef Olamilekan, one of the NANS comrades. This is the main basis of our concern. An innocent toddler and an elderly man in his 70s were also reportedly shot on the same day, and Alowonle was alleged to have led the attack.
“If individuals, as alleged in this circumstance, are responsible for disturbing the peace of the state and disrupting the public transport system that many ordinary people rely on, then we must speak out. That is why we joined this protest to demand justice for the victims and to call on the police to protect the motor parks and other public facilities,” he said.
Abidoye called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegations against those named by the protesters and ensure anyone found culpable is brought to justice in accordance with the law.
Also lending his voice, the factional Secretary of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Osun State, Akeem Kareem, accused the state government of allegedly taking sides in the leadership crisis affecting transport unions in the state.
Kareem claimed that members who were not aligned with the ruling political party were being unfairly treated, adding that many members had lost confidence in the leadership of the state chairman of the association, Comrade Jelili Abioye.
He insisted that members wanted a change in the leadership of the union to restore peace and normalcy within the transport sector.
The protesters urged the police and other security agencies to act swiftly to prevent further violence, secure motor parks across Osun State and guarantee the safety of transport workers and the commuting public.
