Two feared killed as RTEAN members clash in Lagos

A supremacy clash involving factional members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria in the Iyana Iba and Lagos Island areas of Lagos State, have reportedly claimed two lives.

In the video clip posted by Goldmyne TV on Instagram, the transport union workers were seen fighting themselves with stones, bottles, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons on Wednesday.

Policemen were also seen by the roadside looking as the warring faction engaged themselves in the supremacy clash when one of the transport workers got attacked and fell.

A post attached to the video clip indicated that two persons had been allegedly killed, adding that the clash involved factional members of the RTEAN.

“Two people were feared dead in the mayhem as dangerous weapons were freely used. It was gathered that the battle of supremacy was over who should control a new park at Iyana-Iba.

“A trending video on social media saw police officers watching and doing nothing as the hoodlums clashed, throwing stones and using other dangerous weapons,” the post said.

Reacting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said the government had commenced investigation into the fracas between warring factions of the RTEAN that occurred earlier at Iyana-Iba and Lagos Island, warning protesting members demanding the removal of the National President of the Association, not to disturb the peace prevailing in the state.

Giwa said, “The state government would not tolerate the breakdown of law and order in the state, adding that the Commissioner of Police has been duly informed and officers deployed to the affected areas to deal with erring members of the union.”

He stated further that the government was investigating the allegations leveled against the National President of the Union and would resolve every lingering issue, calling on members to remain calm and maintain the peace.

“The state government has listened to your outcry, we urge you to maintain the peace as we will not hesitate to invoke the Lagos State Riot Act when necessary,” he added.

Reiterating the need for unions to always adopt peaceful ways of resolving their differences rather than resulting in fracas and violence, the Special Adviser promised to make public the outcome of the investigation when concluded.