|
Listen to article
|
The Osun State Police Command said Monday it had restored order in Osogbo after clashes broke out between rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, following a protest over restricted access to a motor park.
The violence began when members of one NURTW faction protested after being allegedly barred from entering a motor park by the dominant faction, the command said in a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer Abiodun Ojelabi. The protest escalated into clashes involving another union faction, disrupting public peace and commercial activity in parts of the state capital.
“The Osun State Police Command has express deep concern over the unfortunate incident that occurred today 20th July, 2026,” the command said, describing the escalation from a garage-access dispute into inter-factional violence in Osogbo.
Police said officers responded swiftly after receiving distress calls about the disruption, using minimal force to disperse the protesters and restore normalcy. Officers have since been stationed at motor parks across the state to prevent further breakdowns in law and order, according to the statement.
The command called on leaders and members of the affected factions to cease hostilities immediately and pursue peaceful dialogue instead, urging them to channel grievances to the appropriate authorities rather than resorting to confrontation. It also appealed to stakeholders to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions while the question of which faction should manage the disputed motor parks is resolved through proper channels.
Police and other security agencies have been directed to maintain law and order, protect lives and property, and carry out a thorough, impartial investigation into the clash, the command said, warning that anyone found to have engaged in violence or other criminal conduct during the unrest would be prosecuted.
Read Also: Wike Performance Exposes Governors Shortfalls, Says Eradiri
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan advised Osun residents to remain calm, continue their lawful activities, and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information related to the incident. The command separately cautioned the public against circulating unverified reports capable of causing panic or worsening the situation.
The statement did not disclose the number of people injured, arrested, or detained in connection with Monday’s clash, nor did it identify the specific motor park where the initial access dispute occurred or name the leadership of the rival factions involved.
Read Also: PCN Seals 505 Illegal Drug Outlets Across Cross River State
Disputes over motor park control are a recurring source of conflict within Nigeria’s road transport union structure, where NURTW factions, often tied to competing local leadership or political patronage networks, have clashed in various states over the right to collect levies and manage vehicle access at commercially valuable terminals. Motor parks generate significant daily revenue through loading fees and levies charged to commercial drivers, making control over a park’s management a frequent flashpoint between rival union factions nationwide, with Osun State among several states that have recorded similar factional confrontations in past years.
The command’s statement stopped short of indicating which faction, if either, holds official recognition to manage the motor park at the center of Monday’s dispute, framing that determination as a matter for “relevant authorities” to resolve rather than something police intend to arbitrate directly. No timeline was given for when that determination would be made, or when the broader investigation into the clash is expected to conclude. As of the police command’s statement, no arrests had been publicly announced in connection with Monday’s violence.
