By OKOSUN DENNIS
A 29-year old Makinde Adesina, Tanimona Dele (38) and Ganiyu had left their homes early Thursday morning hoping to make good sales at the Ile-Epo market along Oshodi-Abeokuta expressway in Abule Oke-odo area of Lagos, but got more than what they bargained for as they were shot by NURTW thugs.
They also received machetes wound that left them unconscious and presently battling for survival at the hospital. While Adesina and Dele are battling to stay alive at Obitoks Private Hospital in Ile-Epo, Ganiyu was referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Ikeja, awaiting operation.
Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Yomi Bayewu said the two patients were rushed to his hospital while one was stabbed damaging his lung. The second victim had his knee cap ripped off by bullet with a severe impact. While Adeshina bled into his chest cavity as confirmed by x-ray, Ganiyu had a gun shot which fractured his right femur. We referred him to LASUTH.
Trouble was said to have started when hoodlums from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the area invaded the market with guns and other dangerous weapons and went straight to their targeted persons who are members of the Ile-Epo central market union. They shot them many times and inflicted machete cuts on others.
NURTW had planned to site a motor park in the market according to market officials; a move propelled by the desire to be collecting revenue from trucks conveying commodities to the market. The move was resisted by the Central Leadership of the market which did not go down well with the NURTW.
National Daily’s investigation revealed that it has been an age long trend of fracas prompting the Leadership of the market to petition the then AIG in zone 2 police Headquarters, Onikan Lagos, through one Barrister Kolade Ala.
Part of it read: “That members of the NURTW had forced their way into the market in order to collect their money for ticket from the drivers who conveys food materials to the market, but resisted by the leadership of the market on ground that there is no motor park in the market where NURTW can operate.
It was also gathered that the Local government council did not give any authorization for establishing a motor park inside the market. “This is a glaring case of conduct likely to cause breach of peace but the suspects have been made to sign undertaking not to foment trouble or illegally operate in the market”.
Instead of the NURTW obeying subsisting order not to collect levies, they on Thursday defiled the order and staged an attack led by one Richard Adeyanju, invaded the market in a barbaric way and inflicted gun shots and machete cut on some traders.
It was also gathered that one of the chairmen, Mr. Livinus Njoku said that the problem that they are presently facing is orchestrated by the Executive Secretary of the local council who is fuelling the invasion of the NURTW. “We have always wanted him to deal with us as market officials but he wanted NURTW to control the market. Unfortunately, there is no part inside the market and we wondered why they would leave the road and come into the market”.
Njoku explained that the market has been generating and paying revenue to the local council as their last payment stood at N100, 000 in November. “We had an agreement to be remit N100, 000 in October, in November. It is unfortunate that the same council would commission NURTW to come and disrupt the agreement we had. They now print and collect tolls themselves”.
When contacted for comments, the Chairman NURTW, Lagos state, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede didn’t respond to several calls.
Meanwhile, traders at the market under the aegis of Ile-epo Traders Association in Agbado marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly at the weekend over the brutal invasion into the market by some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
With different placards of various inscriptions: ‘Our lives are in danger at Oke-odo market’, ‘Our dear Governor save Oke –Edo traders from Engr. Famuyiwa’.
Speaking, the Secretary General of the Market Association, Mr. Williams Falana said, they have come to the house to send a ‘Save Our Soul’ message to Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode and the members of the House of Assembly about the way traders are being treated by NURTW hoodlums.
Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun, Deputy Speaker of the Lagos House told the aggrieved protesters to seek for alternative of peace with a view to resolving the matter amicably.