By BRISIBE PEREZ

UDU—A factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in Udu, Delta State, has shot a member of the union, Victor Omor, for refusing to purchase a newly introduced non existing ticket of the Delta State Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, to drivers in the area.

The shooting incident has exacerbated the leadership crisis in the troubled union, as a rival faction mobilized and carried out a reprisal attack, destroying property worth millions of Naira and impounding a Toyota Camry car belonging to the other group.

A source said the factional leader, who shot Omor took the gun of one of his security aides and allegedly fired at him.

Chair, Aladja Park, Samuel Onuata and secretary of the Udu branch ‘B’ unit, Henry Akpunu attributed the crisis to plot by a leader of the union, who had served two terms in office to stay put in power unconstitutionally.

According to the Delta State organizing secretary of the union, Elvis Akpokona, trouble started when some drivers resisted the leader.

Accusation

He accused one of the leaders of constituting many illegal parks, including the popular Onitsha unit and Otor-Udu park without due approval of the union and converting one of them to his private business.

Akpokona also faulted the chair of Udu local government council, Chief Solomon Kpomah, saying, “as the chief security officer of the council, he ought to call all factions to order to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area pending when an election would be conducted for the union.”

However, Chief Kpomah and Udu NURTW branch ‘A’ chair, Chief Matthew Uparan punctured Akpokona’s claim, describing his allegations as unfounded. They said the council had the power to create motor parks while the NURTW in the area accommodates such parks for revenue drive.

Uparan said: “These parks were created to boost the revenue base of the council and the resolution for their creation was agreed upon by the union to sponsor an ongoing litigation between the unit and Block Industry Association.”

Council boss sues for peace

Chief Kpomah, who sued for peace explained that Udu council had not received any money from the union whose primary mandate is to remit all levies collected.

He maintained that as the chief security officer of the council, he would not interfere with the union matters, but asked those concerned to maintain peace in the area.

A police source told Niger Delta Voice that the Police at Ovwian Police station were investigating the incident.