DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA- Pandemonium broke again, Tuesday, in Sango-Ota,  Ado-Odo local government area of Ogun state, following the deadly clashes that ensued  between members of  factional groups of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in  the  state, over supremacy  tussle, which allegedly claimed four lives, leaving several others with serious injuries.

The crisis, according  to a source,  erupted   under the over-head bridge in Sango, after an alleged attempt by one  of the factions to take over Sango park, early yesterday morning, which was resisted by members of the other group, leading to the clash that  consequently forced  people in the area  to scamper away to safety.

The violence  is re-occurring three weeks after six people were reportedly killed in both Ijebu-Ode and Ifo, after factions clashed to control NURTW in the state. An eye-witness  reported  that, the touts  brandished   dangerous weapons  to scare  people away, before  destroying many vehicles.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in the state command, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, but denied that four persons had lost their lives in the crisis. According to the PPRO, who responded to our correspondent’s text message sent to his phone, only one person died, while three had been arrested. According to him “Arrest is still going on. We have drafted our men to all the parks in the state to forestall  further attacks”

Investigations by our correspondent reveal that the repeated attacks were as a result of loyalists of  the former Chairman of the Union in the  State, Alhaji Tajudeen  Baruwa who were continuously resisting attacks from another factional group, led by one Alhaji Akeem Abodurin known as Iyeru to takeover the union.

It was gathered that yesterday’s violence occurred when thugs from the Baruwa-led faction re-enforced and moved in to flush out the rival group, that had taken over of Sango  branch of the union.

When our correspondent visited the scene after the  pandemonium,  some people were seen with  severe  gun-shot wounds, while  some places in the area were stained with human  blood as shops owners and other passers-by  were reportedly trapped in the crisis.

Consequently,  Abeokuta, the state capital was tensed , as series of allegations and counter allegations were  flying round that, 30 people have been killed  and the thugs were on their way to the ancient city for the continuation of the Sango violence.

Also, it was learnt that the  atmosphere in  places  like Ijebu Ode, Ifo, , Ita- Oshin, Lafenwa, Kuto and other parks in the state was tensed ,while  there was heavy presence of policemen in various parks in the state to curtail the violence.

Some schools in the surroundings hurriedly shut their gates, while many residents in the area were seen packing their belongings and heading towards Ota town and neighbouring  towns in Ifo and Arigbajo.