Five Injured, Hospitalised as Rival Transport Unions Clash in Ilorin

 

At least five people were injured and hospitalised following a clash between rival transport unions in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday.

The violence disrupted activities around the Idi-Araba and Itakudimo areas of the metropolis, forcing residents and motorists to flee as the situation escalated. The clash was reportedly linked to an alleged attack on the office of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO.

A resident, Mubaraq Bello, said some youths arrived in tricycles carrying cutlasses and other dangerous weapons before moving towards the NARTO office. He said some of them allegedly threw stones at the building, heightening tension in the area.

A NARTO member, Abubakar Olatunbosun, accused members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria and the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria of attacking members of his association.

Olatunbosun alleged that the attack occurred while NARTO members were heading to the Kwara State Police Headquarters to seek intervention in the dispute. He also claimed that more than 100 tricycles belonging to NARTO members had been seized.

He appealed to the state government to intervene, saying NARTO members were committed to resolving the disagreement through lawful means rather than resorting to violence.

Two of the injured victims, Abdulwasiu Jamiu and Lukman Iyanda, also alleged that their tricycles were forcefully taken during the incident. Iyanda reportedly sustained an injury to his hand after he was attacked while operating his tricycle in the Itakudimo area.

The dispute comes amid growing tension over the activities of transport unions and the operation of tricycles on major roads across Kwara State.

A representative of Kwara State Tricycle Riders, Abdullahi Abdulraheem, alleged that some tricycles had been seized following a directive allegedly issued by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Aliyu Korasabi. He said the development had affected the livelihoods of many operators who depend on the business for their daily income.

Another operator, Mustapha Abdulateef, said rising union ticket costs, alleged harassment and other challenges had influenced some tricycle operators to seek membership of NARTO.

However, the Kwara State Ministry of Transportation denied allegations of intimidation, bias and preferential treatment. The ministry said it had maintained a neutral position among the transport unions involved in the dispute.

Commissioner Aliyu Korasabi said the disagreement involving NARTO, NURTW, RTEAN and TOAN had been addressed several times by the ministry with relevant stakeholders.

He said the matter was already before a court, which had directed the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case. The ministry also denied that it ordered the impoundment of the tricycles, saying the intervention of the police helped prevent the dispute from escalating further.

The state government urged residents to remain calm and cautioned against demonstrations at government premises while the matter remains before the court.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring peaceful relations among transport unions and maintaining an orderly transportation system across Kwara State.