Six persons were injured as Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, a factional Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Oyo State, popularly known as Tokyo, on Saturday escaped been lynched in Ibadan, Oyo State by suspected thugs.
Akinsola, accompanied by some of his supporters, were at the residence of Sheikh Haruna Suara, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, to honour an earlier invitation from the Imam when the attempt was made on his life.
He was whisked away from the Chief Imam’s residence in an Armoured Personnel Carrier on the intervention of the Oyo State Police Command.
Akinsola told newsmen: “I was at the Chief Imam of Ibadan’s residence to honour his invitation with some of my supporter’s when they attempted to kill me.
“My supporters were attacked while I was being attended to by the Imam in his house at Agbeni area of Ibadan.
“Thank God that my supporters were outside when I was inside with the Imam, maybe I would have been dead by now.”
Among his supporters who were injured were Bashiru Saheed, Agboola Rasak, Liadi Akande, Rilwan Akinsola and Alani Adaramola.
Eyewitness account revealed that no fewer than 20 suspected thugs, allegedly led by one Afeez Oyerinde, the son of the incumbent Chairman of the NURTW in the state, unleashed the terror.
They said the suspected thugs arrived the scene of the incidents with several dangerous weapons and unleashed terror on Akinsola’s supporters who were waiting outside for their boss.
Among other suspected thugs identified were Talubi Ojuolape, Wasiu Onifade, Adisa Aworo, Basit Oyunnu, Oyedija Lateef, Waheed Sonpono, Sunday Agbara and Mutiu Eba.
When contacted, Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor, the Police Public Relations Officers of the state, confirmed the development.
Clet-Ilobanafor told newsmen that suspected thugs attacked supporters of Akinsola at the residence of the Chief Imam of Ibadanland.
She said that the State Police Command reacted swiftly to the call for reinforcement over the issue by the Mapo Police Station where it was reported.
She said: “”The command dispatched combined police teams and an Armoured Personnel Carrier to the scene of the incidence to quell the violence and rescue Akinsola.
“We are yet to make arrests because the place was very rowdy and we had to stop that first and later make arrests based on identification by the witness.
“We have advised those injured to go for treatment and later come back to help us in our investigations at tracking down the culprits.
“We will get them and make them face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrents to others in the act.”
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