Many residents of Egbeda area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have deserted their respective homes for fear of being shot by hoodlums suspected to be members of factions of the recently proscribed National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Egbeda, a surbub of Ibadan, is along the new Ife-Ibadan Road.
On Sunday that deafening sound of gunshots boomed in the area during the weekend, causing panic and pandemonium, as residents ran for cover to avoid needless bodily harm and injury.
Our correspondent learnt that many residents around the troubled zone were said to have remained indoors under lock and keys, while shop owners hurriedly closed their business and ran for safety.
It was gathered that two factions of the state chapter of the NURTW were allegedly took to the streets, with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons, as they engaged in violent clash.
The two factions are controlled by former Chairman of the union, Mr. Abideen Olajide and former acting Chairman of the union, Mr. Mukaika Lamidi.
The crises within the union made the state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde to announce the proscription of the union.
It was, however, learnt that trouble started at the weekend when Lamidi in company of some of his men and two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) allegedly invaded the house of an estranged aide, Musliudeen Muideen, with guns, axes and other dangerous weapons.
It was gathered that apart from beating and shooting Muideen, members of his household including his brothers were dealt with, as residents who had sporadic gunshots fled.
Muideen confirmed the attack on him while speaking with journalists on Sunday.
He said that his house was invaded by six vehicles loaded with NURTW members and two NSCDC men brandishing dangerous weapons, stating that he if it were to be in the night he would have been killed.
He added that after he was beaten to the point of death and his family members traumatized, he was driven to the headquarters of the state joint security task force, Operation Burst, and handed over to the state Commander.
Another member of NURTW attacked, Kabiru Adekunle, said he bolted away from his house immediately he was informed by a source that the members of the union were heading towards his house. The duo then called on Makinde, to save the state from being turned into a battle field with those they described as miscreants lording themselves over others.
Lamidi when contacted, denied the allegations, saying that the claim was not true.
He alleged that some members of the union, were out to paint him in black for the Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde to stop his announcement as the new NURTW chairman.
Lamidi, who spoke through one of his aides, Alhaji Ahmed Raheem, said the allegation was an attempt to destroy his reputation, stating that as a peace loving person, he would never engage in acts that would bring disrepute to the state.
Raheem disclosed that Lamidi had intelligent report that some hoodlums were planing to attack people to tarnish his name and went there with the NSCDC officials to arrest them and subsequently handed them over to men of the state joint security task force.
Public Relations Officer of the state command of NSCDC, Mr. Olusegun Oluwole, said that none of the officers of the command was involved in the alleged invasion.
Oluwole who said that every Nigerian had a right to seek for security cover from NSCDC the way Lamidi did, insisted that information at his disposal revealed that men of the command were not involved in the alleged beating.
Commander of the Operation Burst, Captain Osolo, who confirmed that some NURTW men were brought to the outfit, said he released the men when he discovered that nothing incriminating was found on them.