NAN-H-46
Allegation
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) Mr Musbaudeen Adeyemi, the Chairman of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) in Oyo State on Monday alleged that the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) was victimising members.
Adeyemi, who addressed newsmen in Ibadan, said his members were being attacked following their refusal to pay for NURTW tickets.
He insisted that his members would not pay for the tickets as they were not members of the NURTW, adding that TOAN was an independent body duly registered by government.
“ NURTW members are disturbing TOAN members from plying the roads and insisting that TOAN members should be under the supervision of NURTW.
“ I was tortured on Sunday by NURTW members and taken to the union’s chairman house, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde.
“But I was rescued through the prompt intervention of the police,’’ he said.
Adeyemi appealed to the state government to urgently call NURTW member in the state to order so as to sustain the existing peace in the state.
He also called on the Oyo Police Command to do the needful in order to avert a future occurrence.
Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde, the Chairman of NURTW in Oyo State, however, denied the allegation, saying his members would not torture anybody.
Oyerinde, however, said that the misunderstanding between NURTW and TOAN started two weeks ago when TOAN brought a certificate from the Corporate Affairs Commission and attempted to create their own garage.
He said that the matter had been reported to the police station at Ojoo, Bodija and Moniya.
The NURTW chairman said tricycle owners were desirous of taking over motor parks without permission from NURTW.
He also said that TOAN was yet to get approval from local government authorities to work in motor parks.
The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said that the force was aware of the situation, adding that efforts were on to prevent breakdown of law and order. (NAN)
SYS/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)