By Peter Dada
There was pandemonium in Ikare Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers clashed on Monday.
During the clash, it was gathered that one resident of the community, identified as Semiu Aliu, who was deaf and dumb, was hit by stray bullets.
As the two factions of the NURTW in the area were shooting sporadically, shop owners and market women in the area hurriedly closed their shops as the people around the area ran helter-skelter for safety .
Vehicular movement was also halted for several hours, making many people to trek to their destinations.
An eyewitness said, “The crisis started when some NURTW members were seen loading passengers at Oloko area where the government had banned them from loading.
“After they were challenged, the drivers obeyed and left the park but they later came back in their numbers and started throwing stones. When that was going on, a rain started and that made everyone to leave the scene.
“After the rain subsided, they came out again with guns and started shooting sporadically. One person from Okela axis was shot. He was rushed to Oke Royal hospital where he is receiving treatment.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident but said normalcy had returned to the community after the intervention of the men of the command.
“One person was shot and quickly rushed to the hospital in the Ikare crisis,” the PPRO stated.
Source: The Punch
