By DAUDA OLATUNJI
Pandemonium broke out in both Ijebu-Ode and Ifo local Government areas of Ogun state simultaneously on Thursday evening, leaving three people dead, while scores of others sustained serious injuries in the fracas between two factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

Eye-witness accounts told our correspondent that, hundreds of hoodlums in both  local government areas, thronged  the popular motor parks  and unleashed  terror on the people in a bid to take over the parks from the current leadership. The first casualty reportedly died on the spot who was said to have come all the way from Agbado-Ijaiye in Lagos to avenge his friend’s death. The other two casualties died separately at Orelope bus stop and Abekoko, following fatal gun injuries they sustained in the melee. Our correspondent gathered that the crisis began when some loyalists to one of the contenders to the chairmanship position in Ogun state chapter of NURTW, Alhaji Akeem Bodunrin, a.k.a., Iyeru- Okin unleashed terror in various motor parks in the town  to take control of the union.

Commercial activities in the popular Ifo market and other parts of the town, including  human and vehicular  movements were grounded to a halt, as the hoodlums took over the town, shooting sporadically to terrorize the residents.

A source told our correspondent that, the police could not  quel the violence as the hoodlums were said to have displayed superiority over them.

The turmoil was said to have started at  Iso-Fufu park, when one of the NURTW members, whose named was given as Suraju a.k.a Eleda, was abducted and whisked away by thugs believed to be members of the Eiyeb fraternity, but was later released.