Drivers' and union clash left 10 injured,3 vehicles burnt in Nasarawa

No less than 10 persons were injured and three vehicles burnt in Lafia on Tuesday in a fresh clash between members of two rival drivers’ unions in Nasarawa State.
Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Lafia branch engaged themselves in a violent clash causing residents to scamper for safety.
The incident, which occurred at the new RTEAN Park along Makurdi Road, Lafia, left several people scampering for safety while the brawl lasted as the combatants used dangerous weapons.
At the RTEAN Garage where the incident took place, the three vehicles set ablaze by yet to be identified youths were still burning while police officers maintained peace at the premises.
The premises also housed several other offices of other association.
Also at the NURTW Garage, officials of the union were seen seated in groups discussing the matter.
Officials of the union refused to talk to newsmen, and said that only the state Chairman, Bala Gwaska, who was absent, could comment on the issue.
But an official of RTEAN, Amali Yusuf, who was still at the scene of the incident when a correspondent visited alleged that 10 of their members were attacked by members of the rival union for pulling out to join another union.
He said that they had reported the matter to the police the on Monday when the attack first took place and that some of their members and that of NURTW were in police custody.
Mr. Yusuf alleged that NURTW mobilised thugs and set three of their vehicles ablaze and terrorised passengers boarding vehicles at the park.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Michael Adah, confirmed that five persons had been arrested in connection with the incident.
He, however, said that normalcy had been restored to the area.