PMS Boys attack shop owners, two dead, many injured, shops looted in Ibadan

Akinlabi Afolabi, Ibadan

It was a black Wednesday in Ibadan as two people were confirmed killed when men of the Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) allegedly reported to have attacked some shop owners in Iwo Road area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital city.

It was confirmed that the attack was said to be in continuation of an earlier attack and a counter attack between the PMS boys and members of the proscribed National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Monday.

The attack on Monday was said to have resulted in the death of two persons, one allegedly each from both camps of the PMS and banned NURTW.

The incident happened around Oremeji-Agugu area of the capital city.

However, peace was shattered again on Wednesday when the PMS boys stormed the Baba Onilu area of Iwo Road, attacking the shops where phones were being sold.

Eyewitnesses said the PMS boys unleashed terror on the phone sellers and shop owners destroying kiosk, show-glasses, and every available items while also looting.

One member of the NURTW was said to have been killed in the process while many others suffered varying degrees of injuries.

Unfortunately, a son of one of the shop owners, simply identified as Ahmed was said to have been killed in an effort to identify those fomenting trouble on the property.

There were various accounts of his death as at the time of filling the report.

While some said Ahmed, who was described as gentle and peace-loving, was stabbed with a machete on his chest and lower abdomen, other unconfirmed sources said he was hit with a charm.

The incident led to a heavy crisis as people, commuters and road-users scampered for safety while the crisis lasted.

Sources said there were heavy gunshots by the PMS boys while the crisis lasted.

In an effort to defend themselves, suspected members of the sacked NURTW were said to have returned the gun battle while also throwing objects in the direction of the attackers.

Many shops, business owners and traders who sell their wares in the axis were caught in the web as many tried to quickly pack, some others left their wares unattended to in a bid to ensure safety.

Corporate organisations including banks closed shop hurriedly while many customers were trapped in the banking hall.

However, a mild drama played out as the dust settled and the body of Ahmed was found by the entrance of a shopping complex.

Youths in the area who knew him later carried the corpse and headed to the Oyo state Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan in protest.

Efforts of the security operatives at the entrance gate of the Secretariat to resist the protesters proved abortive as they gained entrance into the Secretariat complex.

The youths came on bikes, tricycles and on foot causing a lot of scare to the workers and people who have businesses inside the secretariat complex.

The protesters carrying the corpse arrived the Secretariat complex, shortly after Governor Seyi Makinde finished the weekly Security meeting with the Security Commanders in the state.

They dropped the corpse at the entrance of the Governor’s office with shouting and outcry on the governor to come out and see what the PMS boys have done.

The angry youths who demanded to see the governor, were heard calling aloud the name of the Chairman, Disciplinary Committee of Park Managers in Oyo state, Mukaila Lamidi, (AKA Auxiliary) to have been involved in the incident that led to the death of the middle-aged man.

The youths who vowed to meet with the governor and to give him the details of what transpired at the Iwo Road area of Ibadan and the death of one of them, remained glued to the gate of the office of the governor.

The Governor however did not attend to them while the protest lasted.

Many workers quickly locked up their offices while those who parked their cars outside also ran to re-park and move to safety.

With a reinforcement from the men of the state anti-crime patrol team, Operation Burst and Amotekun Corp, the entrances to the Secretariat were shut, leaving those trapped within the complex to use only one exit route through the Simeon Adebo Training Centre.

The intervention of government functionaries and presence of reinforced security team prevented the issue from escalating into another crisis within the Secretariat Complex.

Many of the angry youths who came later were also prevented from gaining entrance into the Secretariat and monitored by heavily armed combined security team.

Government functionaries on hand to ensure that the crisis did not escalate inside the secretariat include: the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde of Security CP Sunday Odukoya (Rtd), Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Commissioner of Health, Dr Bashir Bello, the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Olushola Akande, among others.

After much persuasion, the corpse of Ahmed was later conveyed to the morgue in a state government branded ambulance.

Major roads around the capital city have been deserted with tension and fear of reprisal all over.

Heavy security presence and blowing of police siren could be heard across major parts of the city.

The Iwo Road axis is under heavy security surveillance, with a lane of the road totally blocked, leaving only one lane for users.