The recent deadly clash that ensued between members of factional groups of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ogun state, has come and gone, but the bitter memories it has left in the minds of residents of the area where the clash took place lingers on.The clash sprang up as a result of tussle for supremacy between different factions of the union, allegedly leaving four persons dead and several people injured. One of the injured persons, Mr Musa Noah who works with the Westerner Publishing Company as a press officer and resident of Sango Ota area of Ogun state, shares his ordeal.According to Musa, the incident started at about 6:00am on his way from work. 'on my way from work on Tuesday, one of my boss at work gave me and some of my colleagues a ride to Abule-Egba and I boarded a bus going to Sango Ota. On our way, there were several sounds of gunshot coming from different angles; so that one cannot specifically say or even guess where to run to for safety. At this point, stopping would be a double risk because it was as if a bus was trailing our own bus'.'As a result of this, our driver decided to look for an alternative. He decided that he will drive into a filling station along the road when he gets down from the bridge. Unfortunately for us, we met a faction while coming down from the bridge. They were armed with several weapons ranging from guns, bottles, knives, irons and charms'.'They ordered everyone to get down and immediately I stepped down from the bus, one of them stabbed my mouth from the top lip; tearing my lip into two and penetrating my gum in the process while another hit my head with a rod from the back. I immediately fell and lost consciousness. When I regained consciousness, I realised I was in the pool of my blood and that they have parted away with my ATM, my national and company's identity cards and the money I had on me'. 'I hurriedly stood up with my bloody clothes and took to my heels. I tried to get a bike but none stopped because of the blood on me. So I continued running to make sure I get to a safe place at least. I cut corners and passed through people's backyard to make sure I get on. While all these were on, the sounds of gunshots could still be heard'.'As I continued racing, I met another faction who were also armed and immediately told them I have already been robbed. I guess the sight of my bloody clothes and the injury on me made them believed and released me'.'I eventually got home that day and headed straight for the clinic, even though business activities were brought to a standstill. It was at the clinic that I realised that I have lost a molar tooth already and another was at the verge of removing. The doctor stitched my lip and eventually removed the hanging tooth'. He added.Speaking on how this can be curbed, Musa lamented on the inconsiderate nature of government towards ensuring the safety and well being of the people they rule. He therefore urged government to find a lasting solution to NURTW's incessant breakdown of law and order.In his words,'It should be noted that this is not the first time that NURTW would throw a community in chaos over issues of supremacy. Many other incidents have before now taken place across other states, claiming lives and property worth millions. The violence is re-occurring barely three weeks after six people were reportedly killed in both Ijebu-Ode and Ifo, after factions clashed to control NURTW in the state, yet the federal and state government have done nothing to find a lasting end to this
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