By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
There is unneasy calm in some parts of Ibadan particularly at Monatan, Oremeji, Olomi, Agugu, Apata, Iwo road following the Friday’s bloody clash between suspected members of the Road Transport Employers of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) over payment of fees.
New Nigerian gathered that following the bloody clash, residents and passers by in the area are still in fears of counter attack by the warring unions despite the presence of armed policemen in strategic locations across the troubled areas.
It was reliably gathered that as at Saturday morning, many suspects have being arrested by the police to avert possible reprisal attack from any of the warring unions.
Eye witness account said during the Friday’s bloody clash, dangerous weapons were used by the two warring sides with several gunshots enveloping the air forcing traders, commuters as well as passers by to scamper for safety with traders in most of the affected areas hurriedly closing their shops.
According to sources, the bloody clash reared its ugly head following the alleged refusal of some Micra taxi drivers said to be RTEAN members to pay their daily fee to the NURTW toll collectors, alleging NURTW of extorting them.
The RTEAN members were said to be demanding that they can only pay the daily fees provided it will henceforth be shared between the NURTW and the RTEAN, which was reportedly turned down by the NURTW leading to a bloody clash during which many people sustained various degrees of injury.
Speaking with the New Nigerian, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adekunle Ajisebutu confirmed the clash but quickly added that normalcy has returned to all the affected areas.
SP Ajisebutu said between Friday and Saturday, some suspects have been arrested by the Police in connection with the blood clash and that the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade have deployed policemen to the areas to maintain peace.
