Posted by From AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan on
Strongman of Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, a.k.a.Tokyo, was yesterday arrested by security operatives allegedly from Abuja.
Strongman of Oyo State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, a.k.a.Tokyo, was yesterday arrested by security operatives allegedly from Abuja.
The news of Tokyo's arrest instantly disrupted the fragile peace in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, as his supporters went into town and caused mayhem at major garages at Molete, Bere, Iwo Road, Oke Bola, Challenge and Agodi/Gate bus stops.
Tokyo, who also doubles as the henchman of the strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, was said to have been arrested in connection with the mayhem that rocked the ancient city last week.
Victims of the mayhen at Popoyemoja area of the city specifically claimed that Tokyo led the onslaught against their area, when the third-in-rank to the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alfa Sheu Akeusekisa Folorunso, was manhandled by some of the suspected thugs and the campaign office of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, was vandalized.
When contacted about the development yesterday, Image-maker of the state Police Command, Mr Fatai Sanni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that the police were not responsible for the arrest.
'I am aware he has a brush with the officials of the State Security Services (SSS) but definitely we are not the one behind his arrest. Even, if they were from Abuja, they are not members of the Nigerian Police," Sanni said.
In the ensuing melee that greeted his arrest, the private vehicle of a Correspondent of the Gateway Television, Ogun State, Mr Wale Adenuga, was totally vandalized by the protesting supporters of Tokyo.