A leadership tussle that erupted on Thursday night among factional members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) became bloody on Friday following the killing of three people and many injured.
Many others also sustained bullet wounds as the warring factions engaged in a free-for-all.
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The police have arrested a yet to be ascertained number of suspects after firing tear gas canisters to disperse the warring factions.
The crisis grounded business activities at the ever-busy Lagos Island as traders at Idumota and Balogun Market quickly locked their shops to avoid being caught up in the shootout.
It was learnt that the fracas erupted between those loyal to Kunle Poly and followers of another simply identified as Alhaji.
Our correspondent gathered that the Alhaji gang had penultimate Friday threatened to take over the collection of toll at some of the motor parks under the control of Kunle Poly.
The threat manifested on Thursday evening when gunshots were heard around Idugaran, Idumagbo, Agarawo and Idumota areas of Lagos Island.
“There were heavy gunshots and serious fight at the Lagos Island on Friday as Area boys engaged themselves in a free for all fight at Idumota, Kosoko, Oluwole, Martins, Balogun,” a trader identified as Chukwuka Ndukwe alleged.
The combined team of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Taskforce and Area A Police Command were later deployed to ensure peace returned to the area,
Not all shops are fully opened as at Friday evening when our correspondent visited.
Security men were on the ground to assure market men and women to open their shops.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, could not be reached as he neither answered his calls nor reply to text messages.
