Five hospitalised as transport unions clash in Kwara

Pandemonium erupted in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday as members of rival transport unions engaged in violent clashes. The conflict left at least five individuals injured and requiring hospitalization, while also disrupting normal activities around the Idi-Araba and Itakudimo areas.

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We were at home when we suddenly saw some youths alighting from tricycles with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons before moving towards the NARTO office. Some of them started throwing stones at the building, and that was when the situation became tense.

The violence reportedly followed an alleged attack on the office of the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO). Residents and motorists fled the area as the situation escalated. One resident, Mubaraq Bello, described seeing youths armed with cutlasses and other weapons arriving in tricycles and moving towards the NARTO office, initiating the tense confrontation.

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We were on our way to the police headquarters when we were attacked by members of the other unions. More than 100 tricycles belonging to our members have also been seized, and we are appealing to the state government to intervene before the situation gets out of hand.

A NARTO member, Abubakar Olatunbosun, accused members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria, and the Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria of orchestrating the attack. Olatunbosun claimed the assault occurred as NARTO members were heading to the Kwara State Police Headquarters to seek intervention. He also stated that over 100 tricycles belonging to his association were seized, appealing to the state government for intervention.

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They attacked us, took away our tricycles and injured some of our members.

Two injured individuals, Abdulwasiu Jamiu and Lukman Iyanda, corroborated the accounts of attacks and the forceful seizure of their tricycles. The clash occurs amidst growing tensions over tricycle operations and the activities of various transport unions within the state. The Financial Secretary of the Kwara State Tricycle Riders, Abdullahi Abdulraheem, alleged that tricycles operating on major roads were being seized following a directive from the Commissioner for Transportation.

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I was working with my tricycle at Itakudimo when I was attacked. My hand was injured during the incident.