Posted by Chinenye on Tue 21st Jul, 2026 - tori.ng
Tension boiled over in Osun after rival transport union factions engaged in a violent confrontation that disrupted activities across parts of the state
(Police Command. Photo Credit: Nation News)
The Osun State Police Command has confirmed a violent clash between rival factions of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) during protests that broke out across parts of the state on Monday.
The unrest reportedly began after members of one faction claimed they were denied access to a motor park by the dominant faction, a dispute that eventually degenerated into a physical confrontation between both groups.
The protest was also said to be connected to recent politically motivated k!llings in Osogbo, where two adults died in an att@ck last Wednesday, while a toddler who sustained gunshot injuries during the incident later succumbed as well.
Associates of the victims were said to have accused the state NURTW chairman, Nurudeen Alowonle, of complicity in the att@ck, though the claim remains unverified.
Earlier on Monday, union members had staged protests at major motor parks across the state, passing a vote of no confidence on Alowonle's leadership.
Reacting to the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, in a statement issued Monday evening, voiced concern over the violence and called on all parties to embrace peace.
The statement explained that police operatives responded swiftly after receiving distress calls about the disturbance, which had disrupted commercial activities and public order in affected areas.
It noted that as soon as the command was alerted to the unrest, officers moved quickly, using minimal force to disperse the protesters and restore calm.
According to the police, security personnel have since been deployed to motor parks across the state to forestall any recurrence of the violence and maintain order.
The command appealed to members and leaders of both factions to lay down hostilities and pursue peaceful resolution of their grievances, or channel their complaints through appropriate authorities.
It also urged stakeholders to refrain from actions or statements that could inflame tensions while the relevant authorities look into issues surrounding the management of the affected parks.
Police assured residents that a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident would be carried out, warning that anyone found culpable of violence or any other offence would face full legal consequences.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, urged residents to remain calm and go about their lawful activities without fear, while supporting ongoing investigations by providing credible information to security agencies.
He also warned members of the public against spreading unverified information capable of causing panic or worsening the situation.