Posted by By OLA AGBAJE on
When some commercial drivers in Oshodi recently embarked on peaceful protest to express their displeasure over the several money collected by some operatives of National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) little did they know it will end in blood and tears.
When some commercial drivers in Oshodi recently embarked on peaceful protest to express their displeasure over the several money collected by some operatives of National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) little did they know it will end in blood and tears.
Unknowns to the drivers, the powerful union leaders, whose activities form the basis of their protest, had prepared for them.
No sooner had the placard carrying drivers began their demonstration than alleged agents (thugs) of the power-that-be at the parks pounced on them. Some of the protesters were bloodied in the ensuing confrontation.
Some of them recounted their ordeal to Daily Sun.
According to Sule Rabiu, "they attacked us with several dangerous weapons including matchetes and broken bottles. We never thought they could go to that level. They did not stop there. They took our money and handsets. They asked us to kneel down before they brought police from Ilupeju station to arrest us.
"When the police saw that the blood was too much, they asked us to be taken to the hospital. I spent five days in the hospital. I lost N30,000 to the thugs sent by those who engaged in illegal collection, he said.
Wasiu Azeez also have similar tale of woes as he put it. "I lost two handsets and N25,000 cash when they attacked. They took us to station and from station to hospital and later return to the station. Some of us were detained in spite of our condition. But none of those attackers was arrested," he said.
The Area Commander ‘Area F' was said to have raised eyebrow over the failure to arrest any of those who carried out the attack. The arrest, detention and eventual arraignment of some of those who embarked on peaceful protest while their attackers were left untouched have further fuel suspicion about the police neutrality in the episode.
As another victim, Sunday Akinyemi said: "None of the assailants were arrested by the police. They took N10,000 and my handset away. They were also known but they are sacred cows to the police because of their godfathers."
Olayinka Olabode who still could not hear properly after the attack as he was hit with a hard object said he was disposed of his handset and sum of N15,000.
Meanwhile, the Acting Inspector General of police, Mr Sunday Ehindero has directed the Zone 2 Commands, to unmask those behind several robbery and assault on innocent people in the area.
The police boss directive was sequel to a petition sent by some commercial drivers who recently were victims of such bloody attacks.
According to the petition sent through their counsel, Sunday Adeagbo of Dele Babalola and Co, the victims cried to the (IG) because of their frustration with the various police stations in the area as the alleged culprits have become untouchable.
The petitioners lamented the pervasive culture of settlement, which had prevented any meaningful effort to the perpetrators of these crimes to book.
"It is as a result of this godfatherism settlement that curtailed the achievement of the new IG in the area of crime combating in Oshodi in particular and Lagos State in general."
The petitioners in order to assist the IG team to unravel the mystery behind several robbery incidents in Oshodi and its environs supplied the list of suspected men of questionable characters their mentors for screening.
Besides, they also prayed the IG to reopen several murder cases allegedly swept under the carpet due to compromise of investigation.
Specifically, they want the police to re-open investigation on the case of the murder of a whiteman along Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road sometime in the year 2002 while supplying two names for screening.
In addition, the IG was also requested to open fresh investigation in the November 24, 2003 killing of a couple whose bodies were allegedly thrown into Oke-Afa river in Isolo area.