Normalcy has finally returned to Obalende part of Lagos Island after hours of tension precipitated by a clash between hoodlums suspected to be factional members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Daily Trust earlier reported that several gunshots were heard in the area as hoodlums took on one another.
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Many video footages of the clash showed people, especially workers resuming for the day’s engagement, running to safety.
But normalcy has returned following the deployment of mobile policemen from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the state police command.
No fewer than five patrol vans were deployed to the troubled spots with dozens of armed personnel while people were seen going about their normal businesses.
The state police command has not made any official statement on the crisis which was blamed on the fight for the control of motor parks in the area.
However, Chairman of the NURTW Lagos Council, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo), has accused members of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) of attacking his members in a bid to take over the park (garage) at Obalende.
He described their actions as uncalled for, urging the RTEAN leadership to seek an audience with the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation if aggrieved with the present regulations.
According to him, each union has its own garage.
He wondered why RTEAN would resort to attacking his members at the NURTW-controlled parks.
Daily Trust reports that Obalende, which is a major intra-state transportation hub, has been experiencing clashes by commercial motorists fighting for control of the parks.
This has led to the breakdown of law and order with losses of lives recorded.
