Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW) on
Tuesday, went on a violent protest over the detention of their member at
the instance of the state governor, Ayodele Fayose.
According to Premium Times,
the drivers were reportedly angry that Ahmed Kolo, a driver, was
arrested and arraigned for allegedly being rude to the governor.
It was gathered that Kolo who was said to have driven recklessly
against Governor Fayose on September 24 when the governor drove himself
to Ajilosun area in Ado Ekiti, was immediately arraigned at the Ado
Ekiti Magistrate’s court for traffic offence.
Members of the union who claimed that the arraignment was against a
promise made by the governor that he had forgiven the driver, started
the protest which became violent with the protesting drivers setting
bonfires on the highways.
“One of us was shot at Ajilosun very close to Fayose market.
There is no way we won’t revenge the killing. We are even going to burn
down police station if that boy dies,” a driver who would not want to named told reporters on Tuesday.
He also refused to give further details on the victim’s whereabouts and the hospital he was taken to.
The drivers damaged vehicles parked on the road, including a Toyota
Avensis marked Ondo AKR 657 FW belonging to one Florence Olukolade, and
maltreated passers-by and commuters.
There was shooting and brandishing of dangerous weapons as they
marched along the streets to register their displeasure. They also
hurled stones at the anti-riot policemen who were deployed in the area
to quell the crisis.
It took the over 100 policemen drafted to the area more than three
hours to restore normalcy in the area as traders at the popular Erekesan
Market, hurriedly removed their goods, locked up their shops and
scampered for safety.
The Secretary to the State Government, Modupe Alade, said the
arraigned driver was rude to the governor and refused to apologise,
saying his action resulted to his arrest and arraignment for traffic
offence.
She said; “This driver drove recklessly against the convoy and he was arrested. Rather than apologising, he was rude to the governor.
“The governor asked them to come and apologise , but they
refused. The governor as a no-nonsense person who won’t tolerate any
threat from anybody. And not until he apologised, he won’t be released.”