Toba Ijaya: Rise, fall of Lagos street warlord

Toba Ajiboye, the Organising Secretary of the Lagos State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), known popularly as Toba Ijaya, was assassinated in Fadeyi, Lagos. His death has reignited discussions about the violent nature of motor park politics in the city.

Ajiboye, regarded as an influential figure within the transport union hierarchy alongside leaders like Femi Jplum, Kunle Poly, MC Oluomo, and Mustapha Sego, met a violent end. He was ambushed on Sunday, July 12, by unidentified gunmen who riddled his vehicle with bullets. Ajiboye later died from his injuries, ending the life of one of the union's most powerful leaders.

The assassination bore the hallmarks of a meticulously planned execution, with panicked screams and fleeing bystanders witnessing the event. For a man whose name reportedly inspired fear across motor parks and political circles, his killing echoed the ruthless settling of scores common in Lagos's underworld. Many observers noted that the empire he built could not protect him from the violence that characterized his rise.

Sources close to Ajiboye suggest a betrayal may have led to his death. A bricklayer, identified only as Oke, who had previously worked for the 43-year-old union secretary, allegedly monitored Ajiboye's movements. This individual reportedly passed real-time information to the gunmen who ambushed him along the Ikorodu Road corridor. The source indicated that Oke was a trusted employee, making the alleged betrayal particularly impactful.

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