Six persons were reportedly injured in a fracas that ensured in Ibadan when rival gangs attempted to lynch Lateef Akinsola, a factional Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW) in Oyo State.
Akinsola, accompanied with some of his supporters were at Sheikh Haruna Suara, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland’s residence to honour an earlier invitation from the Imam when the attempt was made on his life.
He was whisked away from the Chief Imam’s residence in an Armoured Personel Carrier(APC) on the intervention of the Oyo State Police Command.
“I was at the Chief Imam of Ibadan’s residence to honour his invitation with some of my supporter’s when they attempted to kill me. My supporters were attacked while I was being attended to by the Imam in his house at Agbeni area of Ibadan.
“Thank God that my supporters were outside when I was inside with the Imam, maybe I would have been dead by now,” Akinsola told newsmen
Among his supporters who were injured are Bashiru Saheed, Agboola Rasak, Liadi Akande, Rilwan Akinsola and Alani Adaramola.
Eyewitness account revealed that no fewer than 20 suspected thugs led by one Afeez Oyerinde, the son of the incumbent Chairman of NURTW in the state led the suspected gang that unleashed the terror.
They said that the suspected thugs arrived the scene of the incidents with several dangerous weapons and unleashed terror on Akinsola’s supporters who were waiting outside for their boss.
Among other suspected thugs identified were Talubi Ojuolape, Wasiu Onifade, Adisa Aworo, Basit Oyunnu, Oyedija Lateef, Waheed Sonpono, Sunday Agbara and Mutiu Eba.
Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor, the Police Public Relations Officers (PPRO) in the state Confirmed the incidence and said that suspected thugs attacked supporters of Akinsola popularly known as Tokyo, while he had gone to honour an invitation of the Chief Imam of Ibadanland.
She said that the State Police Command reacted swiftly to the call for reinforcement over the issue by the Mapo Police station where it was reported.
“The command dispatched combined police teams and an Armed Personel Carrier to the scene of the incidence to quell the violence and rescued Akinsola.
“We are yet to make arrests because the place was very rowdy and we have to stop that first and later make arrests based on identification by the witness.
“We have advised those injured to go for treatment and later come back to help us in our investigations at tracking down the culprits. We will get them and make them. Face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrents to others in the act,” she said.
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