Fear mounts as gunmen kill Lagos NURTW organising secretary

The organising secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State Council, Toba Ajiboye, popularly known as Toba Ijaya, has died days after he was attacked by gunmen.

The Peoples Gazette gathered that Mr Ajiboye’s death on Tuesday followed an attack on Sunday when gunmen riddled the vehicle he was in with bullets while returning from a political event in the Fadeyi area.

He was initially rumoured to have survived the attack until news broke that he died.

A social media platform, Naija Confra, said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that Mr Ajiboye, was admitted to a medical facility following the attack, before succumbing to his injuries.

The anti-cult platform, which noted that Mr Ajiboye was not a cultist, however linked the incident to a political attack.

Naija Confra stated, “Toba was the Organising Secretary of the NURTW Lagos State Council. Toba was also a political thug who worked for the APC government. It appears more likely to be connected to a political retaliation. Stay safe.”

The incident has triggered unrest in Fadeyi and neighbouring communities in the Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State at the time this report was filed.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the state’s NURTW council, Mustapha Adio Adekunle, known as Sego, confirmed the union leader’s death in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

The NURTW boss said the demise of the organising secretary left him “deeply saddened and heartbroken.”

He described the deceased union official as a loyal and committed ally, who would be sorely missed by his friends, family and members of the road transport union.

“The news of the sudden passing of Comrade Toba Ajiboye has left me deeply saddened and heartbroken. It is difficult to come to terms with the loss of such a loyal, dependable and committed ally,” Mr Adekunle stated.

“My heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends, and the entire NURTW family. May Almighty God forgive his shortcomings, grant him eternal rest, and give us all the strength and fortitude to bear this painful and irreparable loss.

“Your loyalty, friendship, and unwavering support will forever remain in my heart. You will be deeply missed, and I will never forget the bond we shared. Rest well, Toba. Until we meet again,” he said.

Contacted, the Lagos State police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, said security operatives had been deployed to the Fadeyi area to ascertain the facts surrounding the incident and restore normalcy.

“We have informed the police stations around that axis. They have deployed their men. Let’s get there first. Everything that is happening will be heard soon,” the police officer told the Gazette. (Peoples Gazette)