Posted by By CHRIS ANUCHA, BISI OLALEYE, Lagos and EKAETTE UDOFIA, Abuja on
The murder of Caretaker Committee Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Saka Saula has sparked a gang war in Lagos, as a rival group moved on Monday night to dislodge the slain chairman's men from some motor parks.
The murder of Caretaker Committee Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Saka Saula has sparked a gang war in Lagos, as a rival group moved on Monday night to dislodge the slain chairman's men from some motor parks.
The war raged all night at Oshodi, where guns and machetes were freely used, as the rival group dislodged Saula's men, who were led by one Kunle Fighter.
The invading army of thugs set fire to some vehicles and shops at Oshodi, before moving to other areas along Agege Motor Road.
A public toilet built by the Nigerian Railway Corporation was also torched during the mayhem.
One of the traders, whose shop was destroyed in the melee, told Daily Sun that she lost wares worth over N500,000.
The woman, who simply identified herself as Mama Iyabo, said: 'God will judge them. What is our business with the killing of the man? They just want to punish us and steal things."
A commercial bus driver, Akin Adeolu, who witnessed the fighting, said that policemen, who arrived at the scene were afraid to confront the rampaging NURTW members, who appeared to be high on drugs.
The State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mohammed Abubakar had to send loads of riot policemen to Oshodi on Tuesday before the violence could be quelled. One Armoured Personnel Carrier and five patrol vans were stationed at the scene to suppress further uprising.
Top police officers also met with the CP at the police headquarters for hours on Tuesday, to discuss the progress made so far in the murder investigation being handled by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) Panti, Mr Leye Oyebade.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a statement condemning, in strong terms, the killing of Saula, whose union is an affiliate of the congress.
The labour organisation called on the Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro to speedily move to institute investigation into the killing and fish out the murderers.
Reacting to the murder of the unionist, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, said nothing could justify such cold-blooded murder.
'The killing is despicable and callous to the extreme," he said.
While pleading with the police authorities to take necessary and immediate steps to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to justice, the labour leader recalled the role the late NURTW leader played in ensuring industrial peace in Lagos State, where he was an executive member of the state congress.
'Alhaji Saka should not be allowed to die in vain, like many other victims of high profile assassination," Oyerinde stressed.
Eulogising the late union leader, the NLC boss said: 'Although he died in very tragic circumstances, our memory of him would remain cherished indeed.
'We remember him for his useful contributions as a member of the Lagos State Administrative Committee of the NLC and as a passionate and dynamic grassroots mobilizer."
He conveyed the NLC sympathy to Saula's family and colleagues, praying God to grant him eternal rest and abiding mercy and grace.