metro

Oyo NURTW threatens bloodshed, alleges attacks by park managers

Published

2 years ago

March 25, 2022

Mukaila Lamidi aka auxiliary

Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Oyo State have asked Governor Seyi Makinde to warn members of the Park Management System against further threatening them or attacking them in order to avoid bloodshed.

The NURTW members gave the warning in a petition dated March 24 and signed by their counsel and a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr Michael Lana.

A copy of the document was made available to our correspondent on Thursday night.

The NURTW also said in the petition that it was illegal for the state government or its agents (PMS) to be collecting union dues from commercial drivers because the NURTW was not proscribed and the matter was still pending before court.

The union accused members of the PMS of threatening to kill them if they visit the union’s state office recently built along Iwo Road .

The petition read, “Our clients are the owners of the building lying and situated at Plot 4 Aduloju Layout along Iwo-Road, Ibadan. Our clients alleged that while on the inspection of the said building by the executive and the members of our clients today, March 24, 2022, their members were accosted by the so-called Park Managers wearing Mukaila Lamidi aka auxiliary’s caps and T-shirts with picture of Governor Seyi Makinde.

READ ALSO:

“These miscreants threatened to attack our clients should they come to their office again, boasting that they have the backing of the governor of the state and could not be arrested even if they kill any of our client’s members.

“It is of note that in the above named suit, the governor of the state deposed that it did not proscribe our client’s union, therefore, there is no order or law preventing our client from using their property.

“Kindly be informed that under Section 43 of the Constitution of Nigeria, our client has the right to own the said property and no person has the right to own their property.

“Also, it has been established that the state government is not a trade union, therefore, neither it nor or its agent have the right to collect the union’s dues from commercial drivers and this is the subject of the above named suit. However, our clients have copious evidence that the so-called managers are collecting the union dues from commercial drivers in the state.”

“The law is that when a matter is pending before the court, neither the parties can do anything thereon. Our client has been-law abiding since 2019 when your government handed over the parks to Mukaila Lamidi aka Auxiliary thereby leaving our clients jobless to wallop in abject poverty.

“To avoid bloodshed in the state, it is better to warn Mukaila Lamidi to reign in his thugs and make no attempt to disturb out client from occupying its office.

“It will also be in the interest of peace if you also warn the park managers and the local government in charge of collecting union dues from commercial drivers. We believe that as a man of peace, you will heed to our request.”

PUNCH

Related Topics:bloodshed NURTW oyo park managers

Up Next

Committee took oath to favour Bamire as VC, Ife community alleges

Don't Miss

Three siblings disappear from Abuja school, teachers, proprietor detained

metro

Okuama massacre: Villagers boycott Reps hearing over fear of arrest

Published

14 mins ago

April 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Okuama massacre: Villagers boycott Reps hearing over fear of arrest

Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Defence were in Warri, Delta State, on Wednesday for an investigative hearing into the deaths of 17 military soldiers in Okuama town, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State.

The investigative hearing was held in accordance with the House’s resolution passed on March 19 to explore the remote causes of the tragedy.

Chronicle NG reports that 17 military personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, two majors, and a captain, were ambushed and killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen while they were in Okuama on a peacekeeping mission.

Following the incident, military soldiers damaged and razed buildings in the Okuama riverine settlement as a form of retaliation, forcing inhabitants to seek safety in the nearby bushes of Ewu Kingdom.

The House committee members, led by Babajimi Benson, arrived at the sitting location at the Government House Annex, Edjeba, in the state’s Warri South Local Government Area, around 10.45 a.m., but had to wait for indigenes from the troubled Okuama community to make their presentations.

However, during the waiting period, sources stated that the locals did not show up due to “fear of arrest or intimidation by the military.”

However, when addressing journalists, the committee chairman stated that the committee has received useful memoranda about the incident from many parties.

READ ALSO:

Benson also assuaged Okuama indigenes who were concerned about their safety by stating that “there would be no witch hunt whatsoever.”

He asked members of the public who wish to submit a memorandum to do so in ten copies and submit them to the committee within one week.

He stated that they could submit such memoranda to the committee’s clerk, Musa Aliyu, at the National Assembly in Abuja or at the public investigative hearing.

He said, “The House of Representatives Committee on Defence looks forward to a robust engagement and meaningful contributions from all stakeholders.

“We came in yesterday (Tuesday). We met Governor Oborevwori, and we told him our mission. We’re here today (Wednesday) to see members of the community on camera and by way of memoranda.

“We’ve received a lot of memoranda from them, but they’ve not turned out physically. The window is extended for a week. So we’re still expecting a lot more memoranda from the people of the Okuama community.

“We’ve assured the governor and the people that we have the full backing of the House of Representatives to ensure that this matter is reviewed from both sides and followed to a logical conclusion.”

Benson promised the locals protection and urged them to come forward.

He said, “The community people are scared to come out vis-à-vis another list of wanted people being released. They have sent in a memorandum, and we’re still giving them a week to turn in a further memorandum in the next week.

“The clerk of the house is receiving the memory. We’ve dedicated our time to ensuring justice is done and people return to their community, perhaps better than it was before. We need to be fully armed with enough information before we visit Okuama. We will visit the place after hearing from the victims themselves,” he said.

Okuama massacre: Villagers boycott Reps hearing over fear of arrest

metro

Osun teenager sentenced to three-year imprisonment for stealing water taps

Published

17 mins ago

April 26, 2024

Trends Admin

Osun teenager sentenced to three-year imprisonment for stealing water taps

In Osun State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has secured the conviction of one Abiodun Adewuyi.

Adewuyi was arrested by the security outfit for theft of water taps at Durodola community, Owode-Ede town.

He was subsequently arraigned and sentenced to three years imprisonment for stealing the items.

18-year-old Adewusi was convicted and sentenced by an Osun Chief Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Ede.

The spokesperson of the Command, Adeleke Kehinde, in a statement in Osogbo on Wednesday, said the convict was caught in a building removing the taps on April 16 at about 5:40 pm.

READ ALSO:

The offence committed, according to the statement, was contrary to Section 390 of the Criminal Code Law of Osun State.

The suspect was arraigned on Monday, April 22, at the Magistrate Court in Ede, Osun State, before Chief Magistrate V. A. Adedokun, where he was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Osun State Command has arraigned one Adewuyi Jamiu Abiodun (m) 18 years for stealing seven brass water taps.

“The suspect was arrested on April 16 at Durodola community, Owode Ede, Osun State at about 1740hrs where he was caught removing two brass water taps.

“At the point of arrest, he had a total number of seven water taps in his possession and discreet investigation further revealed that whenever he stole water taps, he sold the stolen items to buyers of scrap metals,” Adeleke said.

Osun teenager sentenced to three-year imprisonment for stealing water taps

metro

Anambra vigilantes torture man to death over water tank theft

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Trends Admin

Anambra vigilantes torture man to death over water tank theft

A 60-year-old resident of Nza Ozubulu in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, identified only as Mr. Kenneth, was reportedly tortured to death by operatives of local vigilantes hired by his younger brother.

Activist Harrison Gwamnishu shared a video on X, showing the sexagenarian with his hands tied behind him, being repeatedly beaten with cutlasses and sticks by his assailants.

Mr. Kenneth had sold a water tank in his family house to address family issues, which his younger brother disagreed with. Consequently, the brother called for the local vigilante group, who arrested and tortured Mr. Kenneth until he succumbed to his injuries.

In the video of his torture posted by Gwamnishu, Mr. Kenneth could be heard shouting “They have killed me. It is death. I am dying! What did I do?”

READ ALSO:

As his torturers took turns to beat him, voices could be heard in the background saying in Igbo language, “You stole. It is a general property,” amongst other unclear words.

Meanwhile, Gwamnishu noted that “Currently his wife and children are subjected to fear and intimidation as they have vowed to deal with them if they continue to seek justice for the death of Mr. Kenneth.”

Demanding justice for the deceased, the activist said, “Ndi Nza Ozubulu, Anambra State, stop shying away from this case and protect the deceased wife and children.”

When SaharaReporters contacted the Anambra State Police Command for confirmation of the incident and reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Toochukwu Ikenga, said he was not aware of the incident.

The police spokesperson who asked the family of the deceased to reach out to him said, “There is no report like that before me, please. Can the victim’s relatives see me please.”