Witnesses reported that the situation escalated quickly, forcing residents and motorists to flee the scene. Local resident Mubaraq Bello recounted the moment, saying, “We were at home when we saw youths arriving in tricycles, armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.”
As tensions rose, the group reportedly approached the NARTO office, allegedly throwing stones and causing widespread panic. NARTO member Abubakar Olatunbosun claimed that members of the rival unions, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), initiated the violence while they were en route to the police headquarters.
Olatunbosun called for government intervention, emphasizing that NARTO members respect the law and do not wish to escalate the conflict in a state known for its peace. He also alleged that over 100 tricycles belonging to their members had been seized by rival unions.
Victims of the clash shared their harrowing experiences. Abdulwasiu Jamiu reported that attackers forcefully took his tricycle and inflicted injuries on him and others. Another victim, Lukman Iyanda, sustained a broken hand during the incident.
In a twist, an anonymous member of RTEAN claimed that NARTO is an unregistered association, lacking official recognition. Efforts to contact representatives from the other unions for comment were unsuccessful at the time of this report.
As the dust settles, the community remains on edge, and calls for peace and resolution grow louder. Local authorities are urged to step in and restore order to prevent further violence among transport unions in Kwara.
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