Governor Abiola Ajimobi has banned activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, following incessant violent clashes between factions of union.
He also ordered the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of last weekend’s violence in Iwo road, Ibadan, the state capital.
As the dust settled on the factional clash, about 33 persons were injured, 20 shops burnt, another thirty looted and about 50 vehicles vandalised.
Ajimobi said the union posed a security risk to the state, stressing that his administration would not tolerate any breach of law and order.
He took the decisions yesterday at an emergency State Security Council meeting held at his office in Ibadan.
The meeting was attended by heads of security agencies, including the Army, Police, Nideria Immigration Service and the State Security Service (SSS).
The management of all motor parks in the state was transferred to the local governments, which were described as the statutory owners.
A communiqué released at the end of the meeting reads: "The security council notes with great concern the avoidable and unfortunate loss of lives and property of our dear citizens in the mayhem. The government sympathises with the victims and the affected families. May the Almighty God console them.
"The council also observed that the NURTW poses a major security risk to the state. The genesis of the problem they constitute arises from the following factors: politicisation of the activities of the union, contending attempts to control the revenue of the parks by different factions, an alarming access to arms and ammunition among members of the union and the society at large, abuse of court processes and ineffective enforcement of the law, violent succession crisis in the union and the lack of the political will by previous administrations to take appropriate decisions as at when required.
"Consequent upon all these factors and in line with this administration’s commitment to law, order and peaceful coexistence of all residents, the following decisions have been taken.
"Security agencies have been directed to arrest all perpetrators of the crimes leading directly or indirectly to the recent mayhem in the state and recover all illegal arms and ammunition.
"Government hereby bans all NURTW activities at motor parks pending the investigation of the mayhem and prosecution of all the culprits.
"Security agencies have also been directed to dislodge all NURTW members from the motor parks, so as to allow local governments take over the management of the parks. After all, the parks are statutorily properties of local governments."
The governor assured residents of his administration’s commitment to the maintenance of law and order, urging them to go about their legitimate activities without fear.
Also yesterday, the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana, and the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in separate statements, warned members of the drivers’ union against turning the city into a theatre of war.
The monarch said: "It has become more compelling to warn the two factions of the NURTW involved in this crisis to desist forthwith from turning Ibadan into a theatre of war, which has disrupted the socio-economic life of the city in these past days.
"No individual or group has the right to hold an entire town or the state to ransom in pursuit or defence of self interest. Ibadan has always been known as a peaceful and accommodating city."
The statement by the NBA Chairman, Luqman Laoye, and Secretary Bolaji Agoro described the violence as deplorable, barbaric and uncivilised, urging the warring parties to sheathe their swords.
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