Some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers on Thursday invaded the office of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Osogbo, Osun State, attacking its personnel before vandalising some vehicles.
Our correspondent gathered that some officers of the FRSC arrested a bus driver with the NURTW sticker and asked the driver to drive to the commission’s office along Ogo Oluwa area but the driver sped off.
His action, it was gathered, made the FRSC patrol team go after the erring driver. The driver was said to have made a u-turn and drove to Olaiya Junction where some drivers, who had gathered, beat up the FRSC officers on sight.
After this, NURTW members were said to have mobilised themselves and stormed the office of the FRSC where they beat officers there and vandalised some vehicles.
The protesting drivers were said to have armed themselves with clubs, stones and other dangerous weapons amidst the shout of “kill all of them.”
A resident of the area, who identified himself as Taiwo Adewole, told our correspondent that the police team, which came to the FRSC office, could not restore order until a team of armed officials of NSCDC arrived.
He said the arrival of the NSCDC team brought the situation under control.
The Head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit if the NSCDC, Mr. Wale Folarin, when contacted on the telephone, also confirmed that officials of the security agency prevented what would have been a total breakdown of law and order.
He said normalcy had since been returned to the place.
Punch correspondent, who visited the place, observed the presence of armed NSCDC officials and some policemen.
The Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Mohammed Hussein, who confirmed the attack on his men said his official car was also vandalised.
He said, “During the attack at Ola-Iya Junction, my official car was also damaged.
“I reported the case to the Area Commander Office to report the case and I called Civil Defence commandant and also the Director of DSS.
“I also called the NURTW national president to report the issue before they now calmed down. Some of my personnel were beaten up while one of them was beaten with charms which renderd him unconcious, but he had been revived.
“We arrested two members of the group but the reason for the attack is yet to be known because we maintain a cordial relationship with NURTW nationwide.”
(Punch)
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