Olomi Secretariat of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Oyo .

By Ola Ajayi IBADAN
LIKE a recurring decimal, the fragile peace in the city of Ibadan  was again ruptured by fresh violence that erupted between the two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Oyo State Chapter.

At least 20 members of the union sustained serious injuries,  at the time of filing this report,  and they were lying critically ill in an undisclosed hospital.

While one factional Chairman, Alhaji Lateef Akinsola claimed that eleven people were injured from his side, the other dismissed Chairman, Mr. Alhaji Lateef  Salako told Vanguard that no fewer than eight members of his faction were injured in the attack unleashed on them at the motor park in Ibadan South East Local Government.

Though, Akinsola alleged that the attack was masterminded by Salako in connivance with the police and the State Government, Salako denied saying he was in Lagos as at the time the crisis broke out.

Speaking to Vanguard, he said, “I was not around. Right now, I’m in Lagos. What I was told is that at our park in Ibadan South East, about nine hoodlums armed with guns and other dangerous weapons came to attack my people there and about eight people from my side were injured”.

But his account negated the claims of Alhaji Akinsola who spoke through his State Secretary, Mr. Lekan Aleshinloye alleged that supporters of Salako in company of a police Hilux Van stormed the Olomi Secretariat of the Union at around 6.15 a.m. in a convoy of about 35 buses and cars.

According to another source who was at the scene of the incident, he said the hoodlums started shooting sporadically when they got to the Olomi secretariat  adding that the shooting spree lasted more than one hour.

Aleshinloye vowed that now that it is glaring that the state government is behind all these incessant attacks, his men would no longer sit back and watch the other faction unleash terror on them.

His words: “Any other attack after this one will not go unchallenged.  We will go all out into the city.  Akala is calling for anarchy and he will surely get it.  We will give it to him as we cannot continue to die in silence.”

The police command promised getting back to newsmen when asked about the allegation against the command by Akinsola’s faction.