The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN)

  • Eleven wounded, shops vandalized as rival transport workers clash in Ekiti

    It was a bloody Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, as not less than eleven members of the rival factions of local chapter of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) sustained serious injuries during a clash.

    Apart from those who sustained serious injuries, houses, shops and other property belonging to union leaders and members were vandalized.

    Various kinds of weapons were said to have been used in the fracas with victims sustaining deep cuts on their heads, necks and other parts of their bodies.

    The victims were said to be supporters of the RTEAN Southwest Zonal Chairman, Chief Isaac Fatimehin aka Ayinrin and Ekiti RTEAN chairmanship aspirant, Mr. Adebayo Aderiye aka Ojuigo.

    The union has been hit by crisis over attempts to change the leadership following the last governorship election in the state.

    Fatimehin accused the former RTEAN, Chief Rotimi Olanbiwonnu aka Mentilo of being responsible for the attack and destruction of his shopping complex.

    His words: “We have been having violent attacks on our people since the day before yesterday. These attacks are led by a former state chairman of RETAN in Ekiti, Rotimi Joseph Olanbiwonninu, popular as Mentilo, who has been bringing thugs armed with guns and cutlasses and other dangerous weapons to attack our people.

    “As I speak with you, eleven of our people are in the hospital now. They have sustained deep machete cuts on their heads and parts of their bodies.

    “Mentilo is not happy that the national body of our union, headed by Alhaji Musa Isewele, is considering Aderiye Adebayo, alias Ojuigo as the Acting Chairman for our union in Ekiti.

    “This is why he is bringing many thugs armed with dangerous weapons to attack our people in my house. We were at the national meeting in Abuja and I arrived on Thursday.  Ojuigo and Mentilo had gone to Abuja before me.

    “The truth is that Rotimi Joseph Olanbiwonnu alias Mentilo had chaired the state RETAN for over nine and half years now and this was why the national body is considering Ojuigo who has not tasted the leadership of the body in the state before.

    “On Saturday, when I was called on this matter by Sunday Adeola, a leader in our union who is supporting Mentilo, I explained to the him that I had explained to all parties that those who have chaired the state chapter of our union before should retire like me and allow others who haven’t been there to have their turn. I said we should retire and be others godfathers for others.

    “I explained again that the Mentilo caucus had not come to see me to seek my support on their ambition but Ojuigo had done so and he has got my support.

    “I pleaded with him not to be violent in pursuing their ambition, saying that I wanted peace as the father of all parties and caucuses.

    “He then advised that I have a meeting with the two parties of Mentilo and Ojuigo and I said that is okay, but that I would like to have a meeting with him first. He hung up on the line and said it was okay.

    “But it wasn’t up to 30 minutes when we have spoken on phone, when thugs armed to the teeth with guns and dangerous weapons came to my shopping complex along Adebayo Road in Ado Ekiti, and unleashed terror on everyone they met in the complex.

    “They matchetted  all our members loyal to Ojuigo who were in my custody. But they didn’t touch me. They vandalized the shops and broke doors and windows of the shopping complex and my house behind the complex.

    “We went to report the case to the police station at the  Oke Ila but were referred to the state command where our men were again referred to the Oke Isa police station where the  hospital treated some of our wounded members.

    “The police in Ekiti have not taken concrete step in this matter as they seem to have allowed Mentilo to continue to unleash terror on our people.”

    But Isewele who spoke in a telephone chat claimed that Olanbiwonnu is no longer a member of RTEAN adding that a state caretaker committee led by Mr. Lekan Amusan, has been set up to oversee the affairs of the troubled union.

    He said: “We have also set up a Caretaker Committee which offered to settle the matter between the parties but both the two warring parties,   Ojuigo and Mentilo failed to reach a peaceful pact. So we asked the Committee to continue leading the union.”

    OLANBIWONNU REACTS, DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN ATTACK

    Reacting, Olanbiwonnu, who maintained that he is the RTEAN caretaker chairman in the state, denied involvement in the attack saying he has been trying his best to resolve the crisis.

    Olanbiwonnu said: “It is all lies,  I don’t  have any hand in their crisis and I have been trying to intervene to bring an amicable solution to the crisis.

    “I have been in the office since I was appointed Caretaker by the state and  Abuja leader since 16th of July 2018. I have official letter given to me from Abuja.

    “All I can say is that all these people that are struggling with me now, because they are too far away from the position they are struggling with me.

    “On the other insinuation that I am no longer the a member,  it a lie and they are jokers who don’t know what they are saying

    “Because throughout the time I was wrongly committed to prison,  and I was their Southwest Zonal Chairman of and one of the National Vice Presidents of the Union until June this year when they dissolved the house, so they don’t know I they are saying.”

    Police spokesman Caleb Ikechukwu said he has not been briefed on the latest attack promising to get back as soon as official report gets to his table from the police station investigating the incident.

  •  Ijebu-Igbo boils over killing of RTEAN member

     Ijebu-Igbo boils over killing of RTEAN member

    The seedy Ijebu – Igbo, the Headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, slipped into pandemonium and confusion for the better part of yesterday following a pre – dawn killing of a member of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) identified as Seyi.

    Angry residents and transporters as early as 7am, bunched up at the popular Station road junction, spilled into adjoining ones and shut down all activities in protest over the death of Seyi.

    Early risers and traders who had hit the road for their daily chores beat a hurried retreat as grieving mob chanted songs of violence and smashed into kiosks, disrupting free movement.

    Many scampered to safety where it could be found while a detachment of policemen from Ijebu – Igbo Divisional Police Headquarters battled to contain the situation from drifting into a major break down of law and order.

    Seyi who was confirmed dead around 4am Monday was said to have been knocked down by hit and run vehicle around 2am while loading his vehicle for a trip to Lagos, a source in Ijebu – Igbo, confided in The Nation.

    The source added that as Seyi writhed in pains on the road, more vehicles ran over him many times until some parts of his body were kneaded to pulps, fuelling rage among members of RTEAN and some residents.

    But the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the death of the transport union member, told The Nation that union officials often go to a stand where traders sell animals’ skin (ponmo) to collect revenue.

    Abimbola, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), added that it was while the member of RTEAN was trying to collect the said revenue that a vehicle conveying ponmo knocked him down and the victim died.

    He explained that the disturbance in the town was the work of RTEAN members who were agitated over the death of their colleague, saying   the Police quickly took over the area and restored peace.

  • Ijebu-Igbo boils over killing of RTEAN member

    Ijebu-Igbo boils over killing of RTEAN member

    The seedy Ijebu-Igbo, the Headquarters of Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, boils on Monday morning following a pre-dawn killing of a member of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria( RTEAN ) identified as Seyi.
    Angry residents and transporters as a early 7:am bunched up at the popular Station road junction, spilled into adjoining roads  and shut down all activities in protest over the death of Seyi even as a detachment of policemen from Ijebu – Igbo Divisional Police Headquarters battled to contain the situation from drifting into lawlessness.
    Seyi who was confirmed dead around 4:am today was said to have been knocked down by hit and run vehicle around 2:am while loading his vehicle for a trip to Lagos, a source in Ijebu – Igbo, confided in The Nation.
    The source added that as Seyi writhed in pains on the road, more vehicles ran over him many times until some parts of his body were kneaded to pulps, fuelling rage among members of RTEAN and some residents.
    But the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told The Nation that the transport union officials usually go to where people sell animals’ skin(ponmo) to collect revenue and that it was while a member of RTEAN was trying to collect revenue that a vehicle conveying ponmo knocked him down and the victim died.
    Abimbola, an Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP), said the disturbance in the town is the work of RTEAN members who are agitated over the death of their colleague but added that the Police have since taken over the area and restored peace.
  • Two injured as NURTW, RTEAN members clash in Ondo

    Two injured as NURTW, RTEAN members clash in Ondo

    Two members of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ondo town Tuesday reportedly sustained injuries, following a bloody clash between them and their rival National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

    One of the victims, Gbenro Ikusika who was on admissspoke at  the Ondo State Specialist Hospital,alleged that the attackers suspected to be members of the NURTW and led by the branch chairman of the Ondo/Ore unit, Oladele Tolulope.

    He alleged that his members were in the park located at Lipakala junction at about 8.30am shortly after observing their morning prayers, adding that the attackers loaded in three Toyota Hiace buses  with dangerous weapons such as cutlases, bottles, cudgels and others inflicted injuries on them.

    Another unit chairman of RTEAN, at Civic Centre area.Ifedayo Akinneye, claimed that the attackers who were members of the NURTW also assaulted them and destroyed their office within the park.

    Thehe branch chairman of the Union,Oladele Tolulope, confirmed the attack,stressing that the directive was from State council of the Union.

    Tolulope disclosed that the move was part of the activities of the NURTW to bring back their members who have left the union for another rival transport group.

    Blood stains and broken bottles littered the spot where the warring drivers clashed.

    A detachment of police officers from the Funbi-Fagun division and men of the Department of the State Security (DSS) were on hand to maintain peace.

    he Chairman and the General Secretary of Ondo branch of RTEAN, Alhaji Sebeeni Obadun  and Henry Ogungbemi described the the attack  as unfortunate.

    They alleged that the attack was launched in all RTEAN parks in the town.

    The RTEAN leaders urged the State Government to intervene and their fleeing members returned home to continue with their daily activities.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Funbi-Fagun Division, Olu-Ojo Ogunmoyole, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) said six members of the two rival unions have been arrested and detained.

    He added that they would be transferred to the State police Command, Akure for further investigations.

  • NURTW/RETEAN Crisis: ‘Court has vindicated us against NURTW’

    NURTW/RETEAN Crisis: ‘Court has vindicated us against NURTW’

    The Chairman of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (‎RTEAN), Oyo State Chapter, Prince Kehinde Adeyemo has described the victory of his association against the Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde Led National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in the Oyo State high court judgement as a welcome development, huge leap for justice and the rule of law.

    Adeyemo made this declaration at a media briefing at the organization’s headquarters in Ibadan Tuesday, the Oyo State Capital.

    According to him, the saying that judiciary is the last hope of the common man has been established, portraying Governor Abiola Ajimobi as an agent of peace and respecter of the rule of law.

    He with the judgment, its members are free to operate in all Local Government in Oyo State.‎

    Adeyemo stated that RTEAN is a registered corporate organization that has the right to operate in all states of the Federation including all the 11 Local Governments in Ibadan land.

    He also stated that NURTW has no right to disturb or curtail the activities of RTEAN because the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognises the Association.

    He noted that with the judgment given by Justice R.B. Akintola of Court 6 of the state high court sitting in Ibadan has cleared the air that RTEAN has the right to operate in all Local Government in Oyo State.

    “In his words, nobody or any organization can disturb us from operating in all Local Government in Oyo State because we have been vindicated by the court and we will not allow NURTW to disturb us from exercising our basic fundamental human rights. We have legal backing to operate in all Local Governments of the state” he said

    He also thanks all relevant security agencies in the state for their support towards the association, urging all members of RTEAN to be of good conduct and maintain peace in all parts in the state.

    He also thanked Governor Abiola Ajimobi for making sure that truth prevails in the state.

  • 12 injured, motorcycles destroyed as riders, NURTW clash

    12 injured, motorcycles destroyed as riders, NURTW clash

    There was pandemonium at Igando, a Lagos suburb on Thursday morning after commercial motorcyclists and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) clashed.
    At least 12 persons were said to have sustained injuries and several motorcycles destroyed in the fight that grounded business activities in the area.
    Among the injured were Abdullahi Lawal who’s on admission at the hospital, while others are Saheed Ayanshola, Taofeeq Jimoh, Olorunfemi Shakiru, Segun Idowu, Abbass Ahmed and Kazeem Ramoni.
    Trouble was said to have started after the NURTW increased the prices of the ticket for Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) including commercial motorcycles.
    From a daily levy of about N400, it was gathered that the parent body increased the fare of motorcyclists to over N1,000.
    It was learnt motorcyclists at Alimosho usually paid N50 tax security and ticket N200 on a daily basis until the introduction of the new rates which indicated that they have to pay N500 to the national NURTW and N200 booking tickets to operate within.
    Angered by the increment, the motorcyclists’ union told their members to resist any attempt by NURTW officials to pay the levies, which did not go well with the latter.
    However, the NURTW denied that the hike was over N1,000, insisting that the daily fares for motorcyclists at Alimosho was N600.
    According to the union’s Secretary, Tijani Pekis, booking ticket was introduced in order to curb cases of illegal taxation motorcyclists were subjected to.
    He said: “This is a case between a father and his son, which an adopted father wanted to hijack. It is a misunderstanding between the rank and file of the union and so we are meeting to resolve it.
    “What actually happened was that some of our workers used the restriction of motorcycles to certain routes in the state to extort motorcyclists.
    “They keep collecting money from them and these riders end up paying so much daily. In Alimosho alone, there are over 30 units and imagine how much they spend, laying N50 tax security to each one daily.
    “At the end of the day, their interest is not protected and the money goes into private pockets. So, in order to correct that situation, we introduced booking tickets of N200 per day. With this ticket, an Okada can ply Igando to Egbeda and Ikotun, but cannot go to places like Surulere because of the restriction.
    “At Igando, they protested and we reduced the amount to N100 per day, and then, the N500 daily paid to national, totaling N600. Still, they refused to pay. That was what caused the fight, but it’s being resolved because we are members of the same family.”
    The Nation gathered that it took the intervention of anti-riot policemen from Igando Division and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) for the factions to retreat.
    Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni and RRS Commander, Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) were on ground and appealed to the parties to maintain peace.

  • Scores injured as commercial drivers clash in Ibadan

    Scores injured as commercial drivers clash in Ibadan

    *Police wade in to restore normalcy

    Several clashes between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ibadan yesterday left many injured.

    Using dangerous weapons, they clashed at various motor parks across the city at different times leading to casualties in both sides.

    The clashes created panics at major motor parks, particularly, at the Iwo Road interchange while they lasted. Other areas where violence was unleashed include Monatan, Oremeji, Agugu, Olomi and Apata. Gunshot rented the air in some parks, making residents and commuters scamper for safety.

    The Nation learnt that the fight was a test of supremacy between the two associations.

    A member of RTEAN, Muftau Aleshinloye, said the association was putting a stop to extortion by NURTW members whom he accused of collecting dues from RTEAN members. “That is extortion. And we won’t allow that to continue.

    “RTEAN has existed for many years before politicians backed NURTW to dominate other transport workers. RTEAN is a registered body that has its own autonomy. We are not inferior to NURTW which uses force to extort money from us.

    “I am a taxi driver but NURTW people collect money from me every day at the parks and on the roads. They threaten us with weapons but this has to stop. I am aware that RTEAN proposed that NURTW should only collect park fee from its members and allow RTEAN members to pay to RTEAN executives but it was rejected by NURTW executives who feed fat on us. That was what led to today’s fight.” Aleshinloye said.

    But the NURTW debunked his claim, saying RTEAN should be blamed for attacking NURTW members in some motor parks.

    The State Secretary of the union, Akin James, said: “I am yet to understand the motive behind the attacks. Many of our members were injured and taken to hospitals. For a while, RTEAN has been advocating taking over some motor parks and the Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, had severally warned that he would not allow trouble makers in the state. We have reported to the police and arrests have been made in areas where fight was recorded.

    While confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the police command had invited leaders of the two Union for a meeting with a view to finding a permanent solution to the crisis. He added that some arrests have been made but did not give the number of suspects arrested.