7 injured, 20 vehicles damaged as hoodlums invade motor parks

By DAUD  OLATUNJI

ABEOKUTA- Pandemonium broke out in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital on Thursday when some hoodlums invaded two  motor parks in Kuto, and Ita-Oshin ,leaving seven people critical injured.

About fourteen persons were said to have been arrested by the security agencies which include State Security Service, Special Anti-Robbery Squad,SARS, and the Police in the state  in connection with the attack.

Vanguard gathered that the hoodlums who  were led by  one Lateef
Oriola  reportedly damaged about 20 vehicles in both Kuto  and
Ita-Oshin in Abeokuta  during the attack.

It was further gathered that, the crisis ensued as a result of  the alleged plan by a faction of the Road Transport Employers’s
Association, RTEAN, in the state led by  Toriola , who was described as a land speculator.

There was heavy  presence  of policemen in  Kuto  motor park  shortly after the violent attack, while  the injured were reportedly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre ,Idi-Aba Abeokuta

The Chairman of RTEAN,Mugisu Akinpelu while narrating the ordeals of his members at both motor parks, said  seven persons were injured at Kuto motor park  but no one was attacked at Ita-Oshin motor park.

While appealing to the government to come to their aid, the Chairman said ,  the ring leader of the hoodlums , Toriola had been barred from parading himself as either a member or Chairman of the Union.

According to the Chairman who spoke with newsmen  after the incident, we had got   the hint that, the Toriola group was going to unleash terror on us, that was why, the SSS patrolled  the motor parks and eventually arrested   fourteen of them.

Whiel giving statistics of the people arrested so far, Akinpelu said six of them were arrested by SSS, three were nabbed  by SARS,and five were arrested  by policemen from Ibara station.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi said five  people were injured,warning members of the union to shun hooliganism.

Adejobi in his press statement  sent to newsmen said “the
Commissioner of police  in Ogun state, Ikemefuna Okoye has warned the transport unions in the state to maintain law  and order as the command would not  condone any  act of hooliganism or violence.

“ He said this while reacting to the clashes  between some union
factions  at the early hours of today at Ita-Oshin  and Kuto parks in Abeokuta when some union members  engaged in free- for –all that left five people injured.

“ it is the quick response of the police that  stopped the brouhaha and restored normalcy to the areas as police rescued injured ones to the hospital.

“ The command will investigate this  and  bring to book anyone found wanton. The command assures the good people of Ogun State adequate security always,” the PPRO said.