By: Our Reporter
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Taiwo Jesubiyi to launch investigation into the alleged series of attacks on members and lawyer of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state by park managers with alleged support of Amotekun officers.
The Active Success and Empowerment Initiative (ASEI) otherwise known as ‘Human Right Fighters through its lawyer, Barrister Femi Ariyo, had earlier written a petition to the Inspector General of Police over recent attacks on some NURTW members and the National President of ASEI, Sir Adewumi Babalola JP was attacked on 12 June, 2023 because he is the Attorney to NURTW in South West, Nigeria.
The human Right organization alleged that the attacks on NURTW members and Attorney were carried out by the Motor Parks Management Committee in Ondo State and some suspected Amotekun personnel.
The lawyer said in the petition that, “NURTW has not been proscribed by the Press Release of the Ondo State Government only activities suspended in Public Motor Parks. The Court judgement affirmed NURTW as a registered trade Union in Nigeria while their activities to continue in Private Motor Parks in Ondo State.
But, the Commander of Amotekun in the state, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, had debunked his corps’ involvement in the attacks and states that no Amotekun official will intervene or take sides in the union’s crisis.
He explained that the state government had warned against any planned breach of public peace by members of the NURTW, and the union’s operations have been suspended in the state.
Adeleye who is also the Special Adviser on Security matters to the state Governor, emphasized that anyone caught instigating trouble in any park within the state will be apprehended and treated as a common criminal, as the government’s stance on Park Management is unwavering.
However in his reaction to the petition, the Inspector General of Police through a letter dated 14th June, 2023, ordered the State Commissioner of Police to investigate the incident.
The letter signed by CSP Idris Abdullahi Abubakar, Principal Staff Officer for the IGP, the Force Headquarters titled the letter “RE: ONDO STATE SECURITY NETWORK AMOTEKUN IS SABOTAGING THE DECISION OF THE COURT AND AIDING THUGS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF MOTOR PARK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DISRUPTING THE PEACE OF THE PEOPLE OF ONDO
The letter reads, “Attached herewith is a copy of letter dated 12th June, 2023 received from Active Success and Empowerment Initiative To Fight For Human Rights In The Society on the above underlined subject
“It is the directive of the Inspector-General of Police that you handle and furnish report.
“Accept the assurances of the esteemed regards of the Inspector General of Police, please, the CSP Idris Abdullahi concluded.
