By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

There was pandemonium, yesterday afternoon, in Ajase-Ipo, in Irepodun local government area of Kwara State, when police officers at a road block allegedly shot dead a leader of National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW), Mr Akeem Laduba, after a disagreement.

Akeem,Chairman of NURTW for Kabba/Omuaran/Igbaja axis, who was said to have bled  profusely from  gun shot wound, reportedly died before he could be taken to hospital where his members rushed him to save his life.

Consequently,the enraged members of the NURTW  stormed Ilorin/Ajasse Ipo highway to protest the killing.

The protesters disrupted vehicular movement for several hours.

The highway is a busy route for travellers going to Abuja, Kogi, Ekiti and Osun, among other parts of the country.

The protesters forced motorists to use leaves in solidarity with their cause.

Sunday Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that there was a disagreement between the patrol team and a commercial motorcyclist popularly called “Okada rider” while the NURTW man stopped to intervene.

But the police officers were enraged by what they called the “effrontery” of the deceased transport worker.

The NURTW leader and the police officers reportedly engaged in hot argument resulting in a free-for-all.

It was in the process that one of the policemen fired a shot which allegedly killed the man.

Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed the development.

Okasanmi   said the police officer did not intentionally kill the transport union leader, adding that it was the patrol team that took the deceased to hospital.

“We have arrested the police who reportedly fired the gun shot.  He is in our custody and we have commenced full investigation of the matter, “the police spokesman added.