Lagos NURTW members fight lead to vandalism of 15 vehicles, injure scores

There was chaos on Wednesday at the Oshodi end of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, as some aggrieved members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers unleashed mayhem on passersby, motorists and residents. It gathered that no fewer than 15 vehicles were vandalised, while scores of residents were injured during the mayhem. 

Some passersby, who were caught up in the affray, were reportedly dispossessed of their valuables as hoodlums took advantage of the confusion to perpetrate crime.

Our correspondent learnt that the hoodlums retreated after they were overpowered by security personnel who stormed the area.

The police were said to have shot tear-gas canisters into the crowd of hoodlums, before peace was restored to the area.

A motorist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident happened around 8am.

He explained that the NURTW members were led by one Talo.

He said, 

“The riot started around 8am. I was on the road when I suddenly saw a large number of boys marching from a shopping complex at Bolade, Oshodi. They had bottles, cutlasses and sticks and were led by Talo.
“They moved down to the railway line, around the bridge area. Suddenly, they started throwing stones and bottles at passersby.
“People started running helter-skelter. They came out and started cutting people with cutlasses. So many people had cuts in their heads and arms. In the confusion, some people fell and sustained injuries.
“The boys used the opportunity to steal money and other valuables from people. It was really terrible.”
A hawker said there was sporadic shooting as well, adding that a young man was seized by the hoodlums and beaten to a pulp.
“If the man survived, it will be a miracle. He was beaten till he was soaked in blood,” she said.

Policemen from the Akinpelu, Makinde and Mosafejo divisions, supported by officials of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, were said to have responded to the crisis.